A football club which has more than 120 youngsters on its books has scooped more than �1200 after local people were given their chance in how funding should be given out.

A football club which has more than 120 youngsters on its books has scooped more than �1200 after local people were given their chance in how funding should be given out.

Swanton Morley Rovers Football Club runs coaching and teams for children aged under seven to under 14 at the village hall.

Meetings were held in each of the five Breckland market towns to award money under the so-called Participatory Budgeting initiative.

Eight projects were funded in Dereham and the most went to the football club, which got �1000 from a panel of community representatives and �244 from other applicants as being the most deserving.

Dave O'Brien, vice chairman of Swanton Morley Rovers FC, said: 'We were overwhelmed by the support and the work at the club has just snowballed.'

Mark Fretwell, Breckland's partnership (LSP) officer said: 'There has clearly been a real appetite locally for the Your Partnership Your Decision participatory budgeting pilot project with 109 applications received for the six decision events held in the Breckland district.

'It has been rewarding to witness at first hand the dedication, enthusiasm and resourcefulness of individuals, organisations and local community groups in delivering excellent local projects that make a real and valuable contribution to their local community. I look forward to seeing the wide range of projects being delivered and their effect on people's lives in the coming months.'

He added: 'I anticipate that there will be wider benefits generated through the participatory budgeting events in bringing together individuals and groups that previously were not aware of each other and their respective projects.'