A scheme which enables councillors to devote money to good causes in their areas continues to flourish.

The locality budget, which gives councillors at Hertfordshire County Council £10,000 to put towards charity and community organisations, has helped a number of people across the region.

A variety of grants have been handed out in the St Albans region in the past few weeks, including a £1,000 donation to the Friends of Victoria Playing Field.

Allocated by Cllr Chris White, it will enable the Friends to repair and return a tree house to the children’s play area after it was damaged by fire.

The Citizens Advice St Albans District also received £1,000 to help it recruit and train eight new volunteer advisers.

Cllr John Hale, who sanctioned the funding, said it will continue to “help vulnerable members of the community”.

He also granted £600 to Colney Heath Primary School to help it teach its children cycling proficiency skills.

Herts Musical Memories, which provides singing lessons throughout the county to those suffering from dementia and their carers, received £750 from Cllr Anthony Rowlands.

And he allocated £500 to Transition St Albans. This money will be used to support Sustainable St Albans Week 2018, which unites the district around the importance of environmental sustainability.

“I am delighted to support this week,” said Cllr Rowlands. “The programme of activities are a vital way of raising awareness of what we all must do to live in an environmentally sustainable way.”

Finally Cllr David Williams offered up £4,500 of his funding to Batford Springs Volunteers, whom he described as “one of the town’s greatest assets”.

It will enable them to update their tools and equipment stock and continue their work in the community.