A £138m bid aims to fund rural development projects in Oxfordshire.

The bid is being made by a group representing businesses and community organisations, with support from South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils.

It will apply for a share of £138million LEADER funding which is being made available to help bring about projects to boost the rural economy across the country.

LEADER is a well-established programme provided by the Rural Development Programme and jointly funded by the EU and Defra.

The LEADER programme has been running across Southern Oxfordshire for the last five years.

It provides financial support for a variety of rural projects - including the Shotover microbrewery, Lily's Farm Shop and Café in Dorchester and the Uffington Village Store.

It has now been agreed that any money from a further round of funding from 2015 to 2020 should be used to benefit a wider area of rural Oxfordshire.

Parts of West Oxfordshire and Cherwell districts, as well as areas in South and Vale, will be covered by the new Oxfordshire LEADER programme.

Elizabeth Gillespie, chair of the group preparing the funding bid, said: "The government wants local people to fund projects that boost the rural economy and rural communities and we already have a strong track record of success in this area.

"To help with this bid for funding we would be very keen to hear from any rural business that has plans that will benefit their local area.

"It could be a project that creates new jobs or provides new or improved services."

The Oxfordshire bid for funding will be prepared over the summer and submitted to Defra, for approval, in September.

The programme has been managed by South Oxfordshire District Council and steered by a 'Local Action Group' or LAG made up of representatives from the rural communities in the area.

For details, call Amanda Holland on 01491 823177 or email [email protected].