Shropshire police commissioner Bill Longmore will donate £20,000

Bill Longmore first made the charity cash pledge when he was elected as West Mercia's Police and Crime Commissioner in November.

And the region's police commissioner today revealed he was sticking to that pledge as he and his wife Ursula put £20,000 towards helping local communities.

Mr Longmore, who lives in Hanwood, near Shrewsbury, is now calling for charities and other groups to bid for a share of the cash.

The fund is open to those organisations in the West Mercia area that help fight crime and support victims of crime. It can be used for anything from setting up diversionary schemes for young people to helping established organisations to expand their activities to improve community life.

The money is on top of the £2 million a year community safety fund set aside to contribute to crime and disorder reduction or deliver the police and crime plan, which will be sustained throughout Mr Longmore's time in office.

Mr Longmore said he was pleased to reinvest the five-figure sum into the region and urged people to apply for a share.

He added: "I am pleased to offer this extra money and I hope that groups and charities across the West Mercia area will apply for a share of it."

The first grants will be awarded from next month, in April, and further grants will be made up until December.

Mr Longmore said each grant would be looked at separately and the amount given will vary according to the effect that the scheme will have in relationship to the grant scheme's aims.

A maximum of £500 will be paid to any successful applicant.

Applications can be made by writing to OPCC West Mercia, PO BOX 487, Shrewsbury, SY2 6WB or by e-mailing opcc@westmercia.pnn.police.uk, setting out the reason for the application.

For further information about the work of the PCC, people can visit the website at www.west mercia-pcc.gov.uk