SCOUTS and guides were the chief beneficiaries in this year's Westbury Town Council grants.

Members allocated £500 towards the 1st Westbury Scout Group's new headquarters in Meadow Lane, which is due to open early this year.

The 2nd Westbury All Saints Guides received the same sum, which was almost double last year's allocation, to help fund a trip to an international camp in Iceland.

They were among 47 organisations to share a £10,000 grant pot on Tuesday night and next year this total will rise to £11,250.

Other big winners included Westbury Amateur Swimming Club and Westbury Youth Football Club, who each scooped £400.

Westbury's mayor, Cllr Horace Prickett, said: "A great deal of time has gone into making these donations as generous as possible.

"I'm sure they are very deserving causes and it's a great shame we can't be more generous."