Public money is being used to pay teachers' wages at a Saturday morning French club.

Conservative member of Hertfordshire County Council, Morris Bright, gave £2,000 to Club Escargot, an extra-curricular class for six to 12-year-olds.

The cash will be used to pay for teachers' salaries, stationery and outings at the club, which charges parents £7.50 per session, or £90 per term.

Councillor Bright, who is the leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, said: "I was approached by the club for money and I was persuaded that subsidising the costs would be worthwhile for the local residents and for the children of local residents.

"I was taken through the costs and, as with all groups, they are short of some money. I met with the person who runs the group and was persuaded that this was a good use of the money."

The cash was provided through Hertfordshire County Council's locality budget scheme, which gives councillors £10,000-a-year to spend on volunteer and community projects in their ward.

The group hopes to offer more places to children to take part in the course with the grant, which was added to £3,000 raised by the Borehamwood and Elstree Twin Town Association (BETTA), which runs the club.

The spending has attracted some criticism though.

Councillor Chris White, Liberal Democrat group leader at Hertfordshire County Council, said: "It is certainly not one I would have given money to. In my opinion the grants need to be given to groups and organisations that are in need or that will benefit a large number of people - this doesn't seem to satisfy either of those."

Councillor White added that a number of councillors have struggled to allocate their budget due to a low number of applications, a problem also highlighted by Labour group leader Sharon Taylor.

She said: "I have certainly been told that in some areas there are not nearly as many applications for the cash as in others. The problem is, in one area there may be a bigger need for the cash.

People's idea of what is the most needy cause will also differ from ward to ward.

"I would support Councillor Bright's application because he has made the decision that that is what is needed in his area."