A new parking area for disabled parishioners has been opened at Sidford Methodist Church after more than £9,100 was raised to pay for the project.

Half of the cost was covered by members of the church, with the remainder coming in the form of £4,567 matched-funding from the Sid Vale Association’s (SVA) Keith Owen Fund.

SVA president Handel Bennett said: “The SVA have much pleasure in making this award to the local church, for the benefit of the wider community in the valley. We hope that other community groups will take advantage of this fund, which can only be spent within the Sid Valley. We have now distributed around £700,000 over the last eight years!”

Gordon Howe, church steward, said: “We are very grateful for their help.”