Hundreds of Broadland residents will benefit from new facilities after a community project in Weston Longville won a �300,000 grant.

The cash, awarded by the Veolia Environmental Trust, will fund the next stage of the Three Parishes Project which is working to provide a new community building and sports facilities at the village hall.

Weston Longville has been working on the project alongside Attlebridge and Morton on the Hill and the new facilities will be shared by everyone in the local area.

The grant is one of only four awarded across the UK as part of the national Veolia Cre8 Funding Challenge, which recognises creative and ambitious ideas that will make a difference to people's lives.

Successful projects had to involve volunteers, bring generations together, leave a legacy and improve health and well-being.

Ruth Goodall, who led the Three Parishes Project team, said: 'Many people have helped in different ways to make this possible and we are absolutely amazed and delighted to have won.

'This is a rare and exciting opportunity and we are really looking forward to working with The Veolia Environmental Trust on the next stage of turning the ideas and plans into reality.'

Broadland Council also awarded �10,000 to the project, which beat 28 other funding applications.

Leader Andrew Proctor said: 'This is excellent news and a shining example of what small communities can achieve when they act together to face the issues of rural isolation and village decline.'

Veolia has been supporting community and environmental projects across the UK for 13 years, awarding grants through the Landfill Communities Fund.