COASTAL community projects in Ayr and Prestwick are being given the chance by supermarket giants Tesco to bag their share of a huge funding pot of almost £300,000.

Community organisations and char ities working to improve Britain’s coastline are being invited to share in the funding during a special round of Bags of Help voting. Bags of Help, run in partnership with Groundwork, sees funding awarded to thousands of local community projects every year.

In 42 seaside areas during May and June, customers will be invited to vote for coastal projects nominated by groups working around the coasts of Britain to receive funding of up to £4,000. Over 100 projects across the country will have a chance to share more than £290,000, with £7,000 available across Ayr and Prestwick.

Alec Brown, Tesco’s Head of Community, said: “We are very proud of the impact Bags of Help has had in communities across Britain.

“In Ayr and Prestwick we’ve listened to colleagues and customers and decided to dedicate a round to groups and char ities improving and preserving our wonder ful coastlines.

“Projects supported could include life-saving, swimming safety, beach clean ups, coastal paths, sailing clubs, clean water and protecting coastal wildlife.”

Applications for Bags of Help funding are now open, with Tesco colleagues involved in shortlisting three applications in each area. Customers are then invited to vote for which group they’d like to receive £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000, casting their votes using blue tokens handed out at checkout points.

The scheme will run in partnership with community charity Groundwork.

Anyone can nominate a project for Bags of Help, and to find out more, visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp