A councillor has welcomed over £17,000 in funding towards various projects in villages across Renfrewshire.

Andy Doig, who represents, Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch, said he was "delighted" with the support being provided by Renfrewshire Council's Village Investment and Green Spaces Fund to various community projects and groups.

He told The Gazette: "I pay tribute to each and every one of these groups for using these monies to take their respective projects forward.

"When I was first elected in 2012 there were numerous local groups in the villages looking for financial support from the council, this was for issues as varied as play park improvement to local arts projects, but there was no large-scale funding available. 

"Now with the Village Investment Funds awarding up to £30,000, and the Green Spaces Fund awarding up to £50,000, per project, the whole landscape has changed."

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Among the groups that have received awards over the past three months are Friends of Howwood Park, Bridge of Weir Community Council and Kilbarchan Community Council.

In Lochwinnoch, the Arts Festival Committee, Community Development Trust and Gala Day Committee were also awarded funds.

Mr Doig said he was "extremely proud" to be able to use his Independent casting vote at Renfrewshire Council's 2018/19 budget to deliver the Village Investment and Green Spaces Fund.

He added: "The key objective of the Green Spaces and Village Investment Funds are to work and support community groups to identify projects which will strengthen the identity and character of the Renfrewshire villages.

"And the good news is that there is still £112,000 in the Green Spaces Fund, and £290,000 in the Village Investment Fund, which can be applied for by community groups via the council."