Businesses in north Norfolk, Breckland and Waveney are being asked to help bid for a chunk of £64m of funding. All three areas are working on funding bids for a bite of the cash, which is to be doled out by the Rural Development Programme for England through the East of England Development Agency.

Businesses in north Norfolk, Breckland and Waveney are being asked to help bid for a chunk of £64m of funding.

All three areas are working on funding bids for a bite of the cash, which is to be doled out by the Rural Development Programme for England through the East of England Development Agency.

To help those areas get a chunk of the money, Norfolk Rural Business Advise Service (NRBAS) wants to hear from anyone who lives, works or runs a business in any of those areas.

They want ideas, which could improve the community, economy or environment of the areas.

The deadline for bids to EEDA is March 14.

Richard Rampton, is heading up the Brecks bid. "The Brecks is a unique area which presents rural businesses there with opportunities, but also with some looming problems,” he said.

“It is already the driest area in Britain and climate change will make the water balance even more fragile.

“The time is ripe for rural businesses to exploit the natural assets of the area, including its proximity to the growth area of Thetford. “They can work together to achieve this with the help of some carefully targeted support."

Mt Rampton can be contacted at richard.rampton@ruraladvice.co.uk or by calling 01603 731241.

For more information about the funding and the three separate bids go to www.ruraladvice.co.uk.