Council grants will help to secure almost £2m of investment in community facilities in West Oxfordshire towns and villages.

A total of £169,238 has been awarded to a variety of projects to help deliver new community facilities and improvements to existing schemes that benefit local residents.

West Oxfordshire District Council said careful planning had been able to continue to provide significant grant funding to support vital facilities in our rural communities.

Simon Hoare, cabinet member for resources, said: "As well as direct funding from the Council, our support provides leverage to communities in securing other funding from elsewhere.

"Through this investment we will be helping to unlock almost £2m for release into the District's economy and community facilities infrastructure.

"We wish all of the successful applicants well in their projects, which will bring a great deal of benefit to many of our local residents."

Recipients of the two largest Community Facilities grants of £47,500 include funding towards a £1.25m community centre with a large sports and multi-use hall, library and café area.

Finstock Parish Council will also receive £47,500 towards a project to build a new village hall, subject to planning permission and partnership funding.

The building will replace the village's current hall, which was constructed in 1929, and will include a large meeting room/hall, kitchen, smaller multi-purpose room, toilet and storage facilities.

The project is costing almost £300,000 in total.

Witney Town Council is set to get £45,000 towards a new splash park and new play equipment at the town's Leys recreation ground, subject to partnership funding and planning permission.