OVER £160,000 has been awarded to voluntary groups and community projects by the borough council's Grants Panel.

Organisations such as Age Concern, Crewe Women's Aid and the IRIS Vision resource centre have all received grants to help them continue their essential work throughout the community.

These vital allocations assist in a group's general running and staff costs, the purchase of new equipment and provide support for all kinds of projects.

Crewe and Nantwich Citizens Advice Bureau received the largest single grant, with £80,750 helping to keep both offices in efficient operation.

Grants Panel chair, Cllr Mick Roberts revealed difficult decisions had to be made.

"We would like to encourage the work of more groups and give more in grant aid. However, the total amount requested by local voluntary organisations was more than £232,000 and unfortunately we only had £163,000 to award.