Nine community projects in Felixstowe have been bolstered by grants worth more than £7,500.

Town councillors agreed the help from their second round of occasional grants for the financial year following awards of £10,325 earlier in the period.

Mayor Jan Garfield said councillors were delighted to have been able to support 19 projects in the past year.

She said: “The town council is now seeking to support even more local projects and for 2017 has increased the total grants funding to £25,000.

“There are two opportunities in the year to apply with the deadline for the first round being May 31.”

ABLE received £1,350 towards replacing the electric boiler with a gas one at Layden’s Community Café; Access Community Trust, £100 towards Christmas food and toiletries for 16 to 24-year-olds supported by the charity; Eastern Edge Theatre Company, £200 towards Guys & Dolls at the Spa Pavilion this month involving 25 young people; and Felixstowe Area Community Transport (FACTS), £1,000 towards upgrading specialist wheelchair adapted vehicles.

Felixstowe Book Festival received £500 towards expenses; while Felixstowe Secondary Schools’ Archive was awarded £1,500 for recording equipment; and Revitalise Respite Holidays received £500 towards breaks for disabled people and carers from Felixstowe.

The Rotary Club of Felixstowe Landguard secured £600 towards promoting the first of an annual festival featuring kite demonstrations, a large craft fair, children’s activities and a classic cars; while St Andrew’s Pre-School Group received £1,800 towards much-needed equipment, including an indoor climbing frame and safety mats, maths puzzles and toys.