An East Lancashire borough's sports pitches, village playgrounds, community broadband, electric car charging points, solar panels, car park and toilet improvements are set for cash boosts of around  £675,000.

Projects are set for funding using national Rural England Prosperity Fund monies distributed through grants by Ribble Valley Council. 

The rural scheme sits alongside the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, set up by the previous Conservative government.

The borough's latest full council meeting heard an update on local rural fund allocations from council leader, Conservative Cllr Stephen Atkinson.

He said: “We continue to deliver investment in our community through the Rural England Prosperity Fund, with grants of more than £675,000 offered to numerous schemes.”

Wilpshire Wanderers FC has been offered £48,000 to convert two tennis courts to a new 3G synthetic sports pitch.

Rimington Recreation Association is earmarked to get £38,000 for a similar pitch. Langho FC has also been offered £50,000 for drainage and a new 3G pitch.

Renewable energy schemes, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points are among the projects being supported in different villages.

Chipping & District Memorial Hall has been offered £23,000 for a solar panels and battery storage scheme.

Solar panels are also set for Hurst Green FC with a £35,000 grant and at Grindleton with £30,000.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging points are planned for various sites using £50,000. Concerns about a reported lack of electric vehicle charging points, mobile phone signals and cashless payment options in rural areas have been raised at council meetings.

Children’s playgrounds will also benefit, with Mellor Parish Council offered £42,000 for playground equipment and Wilpshire Parish Council £21,000 for a similar scheme.

Another £10,000 play scheme has been backed for Sabden Parish Council, while Grindleton & Sawley Parish Council is earmarked for a £50,000 internet provision.

Ribchester Parish Council has been offered £50,000 for internet improvements by Broadband for the Rural North (also known as B4RN), and Bolton by Bowland and Paythorne are set for £50,000 funding towards a B4RN scheme.

Elsewhere, toilets, footpaths and car parks are set for support too. Aighton, Bailey and Chaigley War Memorial car park has a £43,500 allocation. 

Sabden Village Hall car park will get £12,000, footpath work at Chipping Brabins Endowed School will receive £25,000, Wiswell Coronation Gardens will get £13,500, and Ramsgreave Parish Council is set for £8,500 for a toilet.