COMMUNITIES in Lancashire have a chance to secure funding from a £95,000 pot made up of money seized from criminals.

Lancashire Constabulary has been given the sum from the £4million national Community Cashback fund to pay for projects which are related in some way to tackling anti-social or criminal behaviour in local communities.

The scheme is being run by the Lancashire Criminal Justice Board, headed up by Chief Constable Steve Finnigan.

Funding will only be made available for projects which have been nominated by the public, with the support of their local communities.

And the public are able to vote on the projects they wish to see go ahead via the Lancashire Criminal Justice Board website www.cjsonline.gov.uk/lcjb/lancashire.

Projects nominated so far include renovation of a community centre destroyed by arson, new centres providing activities for young people to prevent anti-social behaviour and a scheme to prevent crime against older members of our communities.

Steve Finnigan, Chief Constable and chair of Lancashire Criminal Justice Board said: "The views of the local community are vital in helping us to deliver a fair and effective criminal justice system in Lancashire.

"Community cashback offers an excellent opportunity for us to respond directly to a community's needs, so we really encourage people to have their say on the local projects they believe would benefit from this fund."

The deadline for online submissions is August 30. The deadline for public votes is September 4.