SUPERMARKET shoppers have been busy voting for three West Devon projects to receive a cash boost.

Tavistock Community Primary School, Lamerton C of E Primary School and Bridestowe Village Hall are all in the running to receive funding for projects they are undertaking as part of the Tavistock Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme.

Prizes of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 are up for grabs. The money has been raised from the 5p charge for carrier bags and is given back to local groups and organisations for the benefit of the community.

All three groups are vying for the top prize of £4,000 but none will go empty-handed.

Tavistock Primary School is looking to use the money towards providing a new and safe play area for the nursery children.

A spokesperson for the school said: ‘The youngest children at Tavistock Community Primary and Nursery School are delighted that the school’s application to the Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme has been accepted for the public vote. The school is hoping to secure the top award of £4,000 which will go towards providing a new, safe and clean outside play area for the nursery children. The current area used to be covered with grass but the grass struggles to survive with the volume of tiny feet playing on it everyday. We therefore need to find an alternative solution. We are looking at a mix of artificial grass and colourful wet pour to brighten and clean up this area. We are hoping that lots of local people will support our project.’

Lamerton Primary School is looking to use the funding it receives to help create a sensory garden.

Headteacher Melody Nicholls said: ‘We want to create a sensory garden for the children. We have got the funds we need to build a small decked garden area, but we are hoping for the Bags of Help money to buy plants and build a water feature. We are also hoping we can get a local artist to come in and work with the children to make some sculptures for the garden. We are very excited by the project and we are hoping the Tesco money will help finish off all the nice bits we want to do, it will really help!’

Bridestowe Village Hall committee is looking to use the Tesco funding to improve the grounds surrounding the hall.

Committee member Kris Atherley-Hewings said: ‘The funds we are seeking will be used to kick start a project of development in the grounds of Bridestowe Village Hall. We have a very active community and a particularly active scout group who use the hall and would love to be able to spend more time making the most of the breathtaking views our hall has to offer. Some suggest the view from Bridestowe Village Hall is the best in the South West!

‘We hope to install a fire pit and seating, benches for those sunny days, extensive planting and to carry out some significant improvement works to the landscaping of the hall.’

Laura Seeley, from Tesco Tavistock, said: ‘We as a store are really delighted that all the organisations are local. The money we receive from when people buy carrier bags from us is given to a company called Groundwork, who then split it into three, which groups and organisations can apply for. When organisations and groups apply for grants it must be used to improve a local environment area, improve buildings, looking to raise money for school kits or funding to host community events etc.’

Shoppers at Tesco Tavistock will be given a blue token at the checkout which they can use to vote for the project they would like to support. Voting runs in store until June 30.