NEW grants up to £15,000 are available for projects promoting car-free travel in the New Forest.

Community groups, local organisations and businesses can apply to the National Park Authority to encourage travel by rail, bus, bike or foot.

The fund has already allocated £124,528 to 28 sustainable transport projects since 2013 including electric vehicle charging points, bike racks and storage facilities, shuttle bus services to events, and publication of bike and hike routes.

It has now been extended with a pot of £50,000 for 2015/16, with a limit of £15,000 per project.

The Friends of Sway Station, who produced 10,000 'Exploring Sway' leaflets and installed an information board at the rail station to guide visitors on the best walking and cycling routes in and around the village received some money.

Alan Cracknell, from the Friends of Sway Station, said: "Without the grant, and assistance from the New Forest National Park Authority, we wouldn’t have been able to do this at all.

"We’ve had good feedback from visitors to the village, saying it’s helped them discover the best places to cycle or where to go for a walk out in the Forest. It’s really helped enhance their experience."

Contact newforestnpa.gov.uk/grants or contact Fiona Wynne on 01590 646634.