Nearly 40 community-led schemes aimed at reducing the risk of flooding in Oxfordshire will receive grants totalling more than half a million pounds.

Oxfordshire County Council launched its second annual priority action grants earlier this year, attracting over 80 applications from local groups and organisations committed to building flood resilience. Following an assessment process, 39 projects have been selected for support, with grants of up to £25,000 available, subject to confirmation.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: "The quality of submissions was extremely high, and we would have supported almost all the projects if we had enough money to do so.

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"It is fantastic that these groups are so committed to improving the situation where they live. When it comes to knowing what is needed to tackle flooding in a particular area, local communities are often the experts.

"This grant scheme is now in its second year and is a part of our drive to help residents take effective action to tackle flooding and extreme weather, which is being exacerbated by climate change."

Last year's inaugural scheme distributed £250,000 to support small-scale flood prevention projects across the county.

This year's recipients include city and district councils, parish and town councils, schools, wildlife groups, the National Trust, and local flood action groups. Locations range from Abingdon, Bicester and Oxford to smaller communities such as Yarnton, Clifton Hampden, Chinnor, Hornton and Bucknell.

Projects will cover a wide variety of measures, including surface drainage improvements, ditch clearance and construction, culvert inspections, water pumps, timber dams, track repairs, flood sensors and resilience mapping. Funding will also support surveys, workshops, response kits and public information booklets.