APPLICATIONS are being invited to the Bridport Area Community Fund 2014 which opens on Monday, March 17.

Local charities and community groups have until May 30, 2014 to apply for grants ranging from £50 - £3,000.

The grants are funded from the proceeds of weekly car boot sales held every Sunday in West Bay during the summer.

A range of different projects can be considered, so long as they are making a difference to their local community.

Cllr Gillian Summers, Bridport town councillor and Chairman of West Dorset District Council, said: “I have been pleased to be involved with distributing this money for over 12 years, and have seen for myself the good that it does in the community. “I look forward to seeing lots of applications again this year and meeting the recipients and hearing about their projects at the awards event in September.”

Applications will be considered by a grants panel comprising of Bridport Town Councillors and West Dorset District Council councillors in July, followed by an awards ceremony at the Salt House, West Bay in September.

Money raised must be used to benefit projects operating within or supporting residents living in the eligible parishes which include Allington, Askerswell, Bettiscombe, Bothenhampton, Bradpole, Bridport, Burton Bradstock, Catherston Leweston, Charmouth, Chideock, Chilcombe, Loders, Marshwood, Netherbury, North Poorton, Pilsdon, Powerstock, Puncknowle, Shipton Gorge, Stanton St Gabriel, Stoke Abbot, Swyre, Symondsbury, Whitchurch Canonicorum and Wootton Fitzpaine.

More details, including an application form and guidance for 2014, will be posted at dorsetforyou.com/bridportfund or by contacting Emma Scott by ringing 01305 252204 or emailing e.scott@westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk