SIX rural communities are to share a £500,000 fund making it easier for them to apply for flood protection, says the government.

The 'Pathfinder Projects' pilot schemes will look at cutting red tape and costs for small communities at risk of flooding across the country.

Each pilot will support local authorities in developing innovative ways to apply for funding, combining smaller projects into larger and more effective flood risk management packages for each area.

Defra minister Rory Stewart said the government was investing in flood protection across the country at record levels, with a six-year commitment of £2.3bn to protect an additional 300,000 homes by 2021.

"These pilots will make it easier for local authorities to apply for flood protection funding so they can better protect people's homes and businesses," said mr Stewart.

"Our rural and small communities will also have the opportunity to play a key role in developing these schemes."

The local authorities receiving funding are Northamptonshire County Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Kirklees County Council· Warwickshire County Council, Hampshire County Council and Lancashire County Council.

Once trials have taken place, these authorities will report on their findings and will then have the opportunity to apply for funding from the Government's £2.3bn six year flood defence programme.

Results from the trials will be shared with other local authorities and allow them to use similar approaches when developing schemes which benefit small communities.

The Pathfinder scheme enables communities at significant or greater risk of flooding to work with key partners, including local authorities, to develop innovative local solutions that help protect areas from flooding

Further details about the scheme are available here.