Twenty-eight community projects across the county are set to benefit from almost £100,000 of funding.

The cash has been awarded from Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Dan Price’s SWAP Fund.

Projects set to receive a share of the funds include those supporting boxing and girls' rugby clubs, youth zones, community radio initiatives, organisations helping the most vulnerable in society, and efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour.

In Warrington, funding has been earmarked for eight groups.

These are Warrington Open Door at Christmas, Cheshire Mix 56, Warrington Girls' Community Rugby League, Friends of Longbarn Park, Think F.A.S.T Academy CIC, Warrington Youth Zone, 2Engage CIC, and Heartstart Lymm CIC.

The SWAP Fund, launched in September, is a pot of money from the Proceeds of Crime Act, which means it has been seized or recuperated from criminals.

Projects across the county had to demonstrate they could fulfil one of Mr Price’s priorities in order to receive funding.

These priorities include improving community safety, supporting victims, providing early intervention programmes, and reducing reoffending.

Mr Price said: "I want to help Cheshire’s communities to be safe and my SWAP fund is one of the ways I’m encouraging communities to get involved.

"The money I’ve made available is the largest amount committed by a Cheshire PCC.

"This demonstrates my clear commitment to residents across the county that I will provide what help I can to help them feel safer in their area."

He added: "Community projects have the power to have a real impact on crime.

"I have seen that often there is clear evidence that positive grassroots projects can divert those who would have committed crime down other avenues.

"I’m looking forward to visiting those who have been awarded the funding, seeing first-hand the positive impact they’ve had."

Mr Price also noted that there is still money left in the fund and encouraged projects that need a small cash injection to apply if they meet the criteria.

More information about the SWAP fund is available on the Cheshire PCC website.