Community projects in need of cash have been urged to check their eligibility for a fund which aims to offset some of the negative impacts of living near rubbish dumps.

The latest round of budgets have recently been agreed for the Landfill Communities Fund, which awards grants of between �2,000 and �50,000.

The money is distributed by Wren, a not-for-profit business which helps community, conservation and heritage projects with funds donated by Waste Recycling Group (WRG).

A proportion of the firm's taxes go into the fund, which is only available to applicants within 10 miles of one of WRG's landfill sites, including those at Feltwell, Blackborough End near King's Lynn and Aldeby near Beccles.

Despite handing out more than �7.5m to Norfolk projects since 1997, local managers are still trying to raise awareness of the fund – especially for community schemes struggling to find public funding.

Sarah Gosling, Wren's grant manager for Norfolk, said: 'Over the last two years we have seen a reduction in applications. We know there are projects on the back burner because lottery funding has fallen through or the district council funding has disappeared. We are trying to get the word out that we still have funding budgets available.

'But we don't just award funding simply because an application comes in. They have to be good projects which are for public benefit – that's the criteria.'

Wren has funded more than 500 Norfolk schemes including play areas, nature reserves, footpaths and the building or refurbishment of 105 village halls and community buildings. The next application deadline is February 29.

?To check eligibility for grants, contact Sarah Gosling on 01953 714987 or visit www.wren.org.uk.