A community pot filled with hundreds of thousands of pounds will once again be up for grabs this spring after the successful first year of north Norfolk's Big Society Fund.

Groups throughout the district are being urged to prepare their bids to make sure they get a scoop of next year's fund which is once again expected to be £450,000 - or even more.

Projects ranging from a new Coastwatch station for Cromer to improved dressing rooms and toilets at North Walsham Football Club were among 47 which benefited from the first year's handouts, totalling almost £400,000.

Overall, grants helped bump start projects with a combined value approaching £3m, improving the quality of life and community spirit in towns and villages from the far west to Sea Palling, Stalham and Neatishead in the east.

Trevor Ivory, chairman of the Big Society Fund board, said he was 'enormously proud' that the North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) Conservative administration initiative had had such a major impact in so short a time.

It had allowed dozens of worthwhile projects to get off the ground, despite a very difficult economic climate.

'We have had a great deal of interest from communities across north Norfolk during our first year.

'It would be fantastic to see even more innovative projects coming forward this year, especially from communities who have not applied before,' said Mr Ivory.

'No community or project is too small. We have worked hard to make the process as easy as possible. You don't have to be a professional fundraiser to apply - you just need the support of local people.'

The fund uses NNDC's slice of the second homes council tax. About 6pc, or £27,000, went to the Norfolk Community Foundation which administers the fund, and between £20,000 and £25,000 of un-allocated cash would be rolled over into next year's pot, according to Rob Young, NNDC's coast and community partnerships manager.

Under the previous Liberal Democrat administration the second homes council tax was used to fund seven Local Area Partnerships across the district, charged with regenerating their communities.

Mr Ivory said he believed the Big Society Fund represented a much better use of the cash, with far less spent on administration and salaries.

Instead, money had been given directly to communities which had shown their commitment to a project by thoroughly planning it and starting to fundraise. And in many cases grants triggered match-funding from other bodies.

Among Mr Ivory's favourite grants were £5,000 for Stalham Brass Band to encourage young people to play instruments, and £9,550 for Active Norfolk, helping the popular north Norfolk Fit Together walks continue.

A review is now under way to see how the fund can be improved and a report will be produced for NNDC's cabinet, after which new applications will be invited.