Community projects will benefit from a £1.3million grant.

Epping Forest will recieve £120,000 from Essex County Council's Community Initiatives Fund.

Waltham Abbey Town Council will receive £20,000 for the extension of the Town Mead skate park.

Loughton Town Council will receive the same amount to build a new footpath to access an existing river path.

Willingale Village Hall has been granted £16,000 for an extension to a meeting room and the kitchen.

North Weald Mums will receive £15,000, having asked for just £10,000 to improve North Weald Common playground.

The other beneficiaries are Ongar Town Council, Epping Forest Community Church, Upshire Village Hall Management Committee, Hastingwood Village Hall and Epping Forest ReUse.

There were 170 applicants to the fund with the judging panel made up of voluntary sector representatives, town and parish councils and residents groups.

The councty council will distribute 1.4million to 12 districts in Essex.