A roadshow is on its way to west Oxfordshire villages to show them how they can secure financial help from the European Union.

It follows a successful bid earlier this year when the district council was awarded £1.4m from the European Social Fund to combat a decline in rural services.

The West Oxfordshire Network is now promoting the new funding opportunities, and will be visiting communities through roadshow events, starting on Thursday, October 31, at North Leigh village hall.

The network is a partnership of local businesses, Government and community organisations, and the grants on offer cover up to half of the costs for community-led projects meeting local needs.

Already one project, looking into ways of branding and marketing locally-produced food, has been given the go-ahead.

Mary Neale, the council's cabinet member for finance, said: "There has already been a surge of interest with many innovative projects coming forward.

"West Oxfordshire is only one of five districts in the South East to have been successful in obtaining these funds, and I encourage residents to take this opportunity to proceed with projects that will benefit their communities. "

Eight more roadshows are planned. The next ones will be at villages halls in Aston, on November 12, Alvescot, on November 27, and Leafield, on December 11.