Parish councils across Norfolk have been urged to stake their claim for part of a £300,000 pot of cash to make their communities safer.

Money for small-scale highways projects, such as part-time 20mph signs, mobile vehicle activated signs and improved footpaths is available from Norfolk County Council.

The council has made the cash available through its Parish Partnership scheme, which is now in its fifth year. The money is available for projects which can be carried out in 2016/17 and parishes will be able to bid for funding covering up to half the cost of the schemes.

Toby Coke, chairman of the county council's environment, development and transport committee, said: 'The Parish Partnerships scheme has proved popular and successful, and we received 129 bids for this year's scheme.

'We want to encourage participation in the scheme across the whole county, and in particular from parishes with lower incomes who may struggle to fund bids.

'So this year, to encourage bids from town and parish councils with annual incomes below £2,000, we will consider providing additional county council funding.'

Brian Frith, chairman of Forncett Parish Council, said the partnership had helped with several projects in his parish over the past few years.

He said: 'Amongst the projects are sections of footway designed to make it safer for children attending Forncett School and a vehicle activated sign warning of the dangerous junction near the school.

'Later in the year we will also have a SAM2 sign which can be moved to various locations in the village to indicate vehicle speed.'

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