A £2m intiative has helped create and save more than 183km of public rights of way.

Launched in 2012, the Paths for Communities (P4C) scheme, was set up to develop and enhance local public paths, extending access and making the network easier to use.

The programme was managed by Natural England. It encouraged rural communities to work with landowners to develop public rights of way.

A final report detailing outcomes from the scheme can be viewed here.

As well as extending the network, the scheme brought a range of both social and economic benefits.

The P4C fund invested in over 183km of public rights of way (PROW) including the creation of an additional 55km of new bridleway and 21km of new footpaths.

In addition, P4C secured improvements to a further 107 km of existing routes where these were connected to the new PROW created.

Natural England chairman Andrew Sells said: "Paths for Communities was the first scheme of its kind and proved incredibly popular.

"Communities are best placed to identify where rights of way improvements are needed and they've worked hard with landowners and a variety of organisations on a significant number of projects around the country.

Local businesses have also been supported by the work needed to create and improve new routes – and from more people enjoying them."

Most of the routes provided access for walking, horse-riding and cycling.

Many of the projects also provided specific improvements for a range of users with limited mobility including wheelchair users and those with pushchairs.

Improvements included surface works to make the routes more accessible, bridges, access friendly gates, signposting, promotion and information boards.

Defra minister Dan Rogerson said: "The Path for Communities scheme has been a huge success, opening up miles and miles of beautiful countryside for everyone to enjoy.

"It has boosted local tourism and rural businesses helping to create a stronger economy and a fairer society."

What sets this scheme apart is that local people had the opportunity to identify the projects that would benefit their community the most."

The scheme supported a range of social and economic benefits to rural communities and levered in additional funding from business as well as voluntary contributions.

Letters of support were received from 112 rural businesses along with supportive letters from schools and medical professionals, all of which anticipated a range of benefits from the PROW improvements.

The projects recorded an input of 11,786 hours of volunteer time.

The P4C scheme was launched in May 2012 with £2 million of funds provided under the Rural Development Programme for England to spend by March 2014.

The scheme closed to new applications at the end of September 2013.