THREE community organisations in Okehampton have been awarded grants by the town council to improve their facilities.

The Okement Rivers Improvement Group was given £500 to continue the work it does in keeping the town's rivers and riverside environment clean and enjoyable for the community and its visitors.

The group has already secured a £5,000 grant from West Devon Borough Council and a grant from Prince Charles.

Cllr Christine Marsh told the council's policy committee last week that the group was going through the next stage to obtain a £10,000 grant: 'The matching figures are helping us to negotiate the grant.

'The funds will go towards clearing the river behind Lidl, which is an undervalued area and a confluence of our two rivers.

'It is important to our town that we clear and improve the river.'

A grant of £1,000 each was agreed to help Simmons Bowling Club and Okehampton Rugby Football Club, in a bid to improve the drainage and solve flooding problems on their grounds.

Cllr Charles Letchford said: 'Simmons Bowling Club is an asset to the town.

'Although it is a members' club, people do still visit and it is important we support it and its needs.'

Deputy mayor Cllr David Weekes, who proposed the grant of £1,000 for the rugby club, said: 'The club is a facility for the youth of the town and the people of Okehampton.

'The town council is supporting the club because it helps the town itself. There are a lot of youth teams that people don't know about who use the club and it needs our help.

'I think the drainage problem is a result of surrounding buildings. There seems to be nowhere for the water to run off so it ends up on the field, which is causing the flooding.

'The club will be able to use the money to improve its facilities and help towards fixing the problem.

'Anything that improves Okehampton is okay by me.'

Mayor of Okehampton Cllr Kay Bickley seconded the offer for the rugby club. she said: 'The club supports youth sport in the town. They are a voluntary organisation and I for one, would like to help.'

The grant recommendations were ratified at a full council meeting on Monday.