GRUBBY High Streets are getting a cash windfall from the government to spruce themselves up.

But joy may turn to frustration in Dorset when councils see the huge disparity in the handouts.

Bournemouth Borough Council will receive £34,140 to improve its town centre.

But Christchurch stands to receive nearly four times less, at just £8,698 - not dissimilar to the £8,196 given to Purbeck District Council.

The urbanised Borough of Poole is set to get £26,517. But the largely rural New Forest District Council has coined £31,482.

And North Dorset District Council will receive £12,463 with East Dorset District receiving £15,669.

The money is part of a £9.75m initiative ahead of ‘National High Street Perfect Day’ later this year, a community-led clean-up to make sure high streets look their best.

In partnership with existing community groups, councils will be able to use the one-off funding to support volunteers, said a government spokesman.

"They will be able to buy tools such as litter pickers, gloves and brushes and provide training for residents on how to remove graffiti or tackle fly-tipping, as well as organise events to encourage more families to get involved," he said.

The initiative is off the back of Sir John Timpson’s High Street Report, compiled by retail industry experts, which called for a community-led approach towards supporting high streets, including one day in the year when every town centre looks the best it possibly can.

The funding will give local authorities an opportunity to do more, encourage communities to take greater pride in their local area and support campaigns such as Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean Campaign which runs from March 22 to April 23.