Play park improvements and new litter-picking equipment are among the investments made by the South Cumberland Panel recently.

The panel, made up of Cumberland councillors, invests in local projects in line with community priorities.

Lowside Quarter Parish Council was awarded £483 for community litter-picking equipment, while Whicham Parish Council received £10,000 towards new equipment for play areas in Silecroft and Kirksanton.

Lamplugh Village Hall was granted £6,960 to resurface the hall's car park and create two disabled access parking spaces.

Bee Unique was awarded £1,748 towards inflatable play equipment to use at events.

Income from this helps sustain their work with people with special educational needs.

Three community panels have come together to fund this project, which operates in all of their areas.

Colin Cox, Cumberland Council’s director of public health and communities, said: "It’s great to see another group of incredible grassroots projects receive investment in South Copeland.

"These kinds of investments really open up the community for residents – making sure services and support are there for everyone."

The South Cumberland Community Panel is hosting a get-together to hear the latest from nature-focused organisations.

The event is at Egremont Market Hall on Thursday, October 3, from 10.30am until 12.30pm.

Residents will also be able to find out more about the work of the panel and chat to other bodies with an environmental focus.

The deadline for the next round of investments from the South Cumberland Community Panel is October 25.