Nine organisations in west Norfolk have been given grants of up to £2,500 from Norfolk County Council's health committee to fund projects.

The projects are to help support children get the best start in life, encourage healthy lifestyles and to reduce emergency hospital admissions.

Organisations that have been awarded in North Lynn are the Forward Day Centre Ltd, West Norfolk Mind, Discovery Centre, and The Matthew Project.

In Hunstanton, a grant has been given to Norfolk Rural Community Council. Sustrans and West Norfolk Befriending for both Hunstanton and Downham Market, have also benefited too.

The fund has been coordinated by the Healthy Communities Team, who have been working with local people and groups at a series of engagement events this year.

Lucy Macleod, interim director for Public Health for Norfolk, said: 'I'm pleased so many local communities are going to benefit from the Healthy Communities Fund. We received a good response from local groups and organisations and I hope we will be able to do the same in other parts of the county in the near future.

Jim Yallop, centre manager at the North Lynn Discovery Centre, said that the money will help fund a free community gym.

He said: 'We are really pleased to receive this funding and without it the project would not have been able to go ahead. There are so many people out there that would like to get fit but don't have access to a gym or don't have the confidence to go, our new facility will enable them to give it a go.'