More than £60,000 has been awarded to help village halls support rural communities in the south of England.

Hampshire County Council awarded £61,890 in grants to six village halls across the county.

"Village Halls are the life blood of most communities, but particularly rural communities across Hampshire," said Andrew Gibson, the council's executive member for culture and recreation.

The money from the Community Buildings Capital Fund would enable communiteis to make improvements to be buildings and create new facilities.

Mr Gibson approved grants to village halls in the New Forest, East Hampshire, Winchester, Basingstoke and Test Valley at his decision day on 16 July.

He added "The provision of these buildings is vital to keep local communities strong and provide organisations and the voluntary sector access to the services and facilities they need."

The partnership funding enables the voluntary and community sector to maintain the quality of Hampshire's cultural assets, namely their village halls and community associations, some of which are listed buildings.

The county council works in partnership with community associations and village hall trusts to help local people meet the recreational, educational, social, cultural and environmental needs of their local communities.