A major High Street bank says it will commit "substantial funding" to a rural charity set up by the Prince of Wales.

The Prince's Countryside Fund supports a multitude of organisations and individuals working to keep farmers in business and rural communities alive.

Already a support of the fund, Lloyds Bank said it intended to commit substantial funding over the next three years to the charity.

Andrew Naylor, head of agriculture at Lloyds Bank, said: "I am delighted that we have committed a further three years to this extremely worthwhile initiative.

"We recognise that for the farming sector to prosper, it needs to be supported by thriving rural communities, which is at the heart of the Fund's work in tackling issues such as isolation and the decline in rural communities.

He added: "By working closely together in rural communities to support farming businesses and backing the work of organisations like the Prince's Countryside Fund, we hope to help Britain prosper."

Since 2010, The Prince's Countryside Fund has contributed £4.4 million in grants to support 140 rural communities by improving service provision.

It has also supported 3,400 rural businesses through funding projects that work directly with farmers to improve efficiency and profitability.

Some 880 rural enterprises have received support for innovative business projects and 4,380 young people have benefitted from projects offering training opportunities.

The fund's Helen Aldis said: "Our countryside faces many challenges.

By working with companies such as Lloyds Bank Agriculture we are able to invest in projects that help create a thriving rural community, injecting funding and resources to support fledgling rural businesses, assisting farmers to improve their business performance and encouraging the next generation to consider a career in the countryside."

In addition to the three-year funding agreement, Lloyds Bank is hosting a fundraising day at TV presenter Adam Henson's farm in the Cotswolds in September.

As well as being a broadcaster and farmer, Mr Henson has been Lloyds "farming ambassador" since 2010.

He works in close conjunction with the agricultural teams helping to heighten awareness and understanding of the importance of financial and environmental sustainability within the farming sector.