RURAL communities are being given the chance to apply for funding to help make them safer.

Colchester Council has launched its Rural Crime Toolkit to coincide with National Rural Crime Week.

The toolkit has been developed alongside Essex Police's rural crime strategy and offers advice and guidance to more remote communities about how they can clearly identify issues which impact them, work on practical solutions on how to solve them, develop preventative measures to stop issues occurring in the first place and a includes guide on how to apply for funding from the council and other funding organisations.

The authority has committed £30,000 in funding to support schemes which tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in the borough's rural areas.

Parish councils, organisations and other groups can bid for grants of up to £1,000 each at safercolchester.co.uk.

The council's public safety boss Mike Lilley (Lab) said: “We’re building on the council’s investment in police numbers, by launching this toolkit and committing £30,000 funding to support the implementation of schemes to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in rural areas.

“We all have a part to play in making our communities safer, friendlier and more liveable.

"This is a key piece of funding to support residents’ around rural crime in the borough and by working with parish councils, rural businesses, farmers and Essex Police we will reduce the impact rural crime has on our communities, helping to create a Better Colchester.”