TOWNS and villages in West Devon are being invited to apply for a grant to help reduce the impact of flooding on their communities.

There is still funding available for flood groups, community groups and town and parish councils to help increase a community’s flood resilience.

Grants of up to £1,500 are available from The Devon Emergency Flood Resilience Fund, which has been provided by Devon County Council and is being issued through the Devon Community Resilience Forum.

The money is for equipment, including temporary flood barriers, sand bags, waterproof sheeting, road signs, emergency blankets and equipment for volunteers including tools, torches, high-vis jackets and radios.

The fund is available to groups with a community emergency plan or flood plan in place but not individuals.

In some circumstances groups without a plan in place may still be eligible for a grant if a draft plan is being developed and it can show how the funding will support that plan.

And in exceptional circumstances the grant may be used as a contribution towards small scale, practical works that will immediately benefit the community.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: ‘We have made this fund available as part of the county council’s commitment to help communities help themselves.

‘We know that small resilience measures can significantly improve the speed householders and communities are able to respond to flooding and can reduce the impact of flooding.’

To find out more about the fund and for an application form, visit www.devoncommunities.org.uk/emergency-flood-resilience-grant