A Watford county councillor has awarded more than £3,000 to organisations in and around Watford as part of the latest round of support.

Watford Women's Centre, Laurance Haines Primary School, the Hygiene Bank, and Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline have all received funding from Cllr Nigel Bell.

The West Watford Labour politician is among 78 Hertfordshire county councillors who have £15,000 to spend from their locality budgets to support good causes in the area they serve.

He has given £1,500 to Watford Women's Centre to pay for the refurbishment of its reception area and kitchen in Market Street.

Cllr Bell said: "I feel very strongly that the Watford Women’s Centre needs urgent help at this difficult time with all the key work they are doing to help so many vulnerable women."

A thousand pounds will help support schools, students, and families who are experiencing hygiene poverty.

The money will help buy packs of cleaning and sanitary products through the Watford Hygiene Bank.

Cllr Bell has approved a grant of £500 to help to provide a free-to-caller helpline service for the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline.

It comes at a time when demand is still rising owing to the impact of Covid-19 and the extra funding will also help cover some of the costs of adapting volunteer training.

Meanwhile, Laurance Haines school has received £360 to help provide the Barney & Echo Caught in the Web project, which is an educational resource aimed at children aged between 9 and 11 years old.

The purpose of the project is to educate children on the correct use of the internet, including strategies to help avoid inappropriate internet use and deal with cyber bullying.