CASH is available for villages in Cheshire to spruce up their community buildings or build new ones.

The Rural Community Buildings Loan Fund has £700,000 to help renovate buildings like church halls, village halls and community centres.

It encourages communities to raise funds, knowing a loan could be available to help them meet their target and win funding from other sources.

The fund is managed by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), the national voice for England’s network of 38 rural community councils, on behalf of Defra.

The average loan taken out by village hall committees is around £15,000 but larger loans are considered.

The interest charged on the loan is returned to the Government, but capital is put back into the fund to support other community buildings.

For details of how to apply email enquiries@cheshireaction.org.uk