A LOCAL council has earmarked £1,700 a year to support the rural economy in Dorset.

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council pledged to give £1,700 annually from 2015-2020 to support the LEADER economic investment programme.

The programme will be investing in projects to increase local prosperity.

It uses a community-led approach to oversee how the funding from the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development is spent.

Ray Nowak, who holds the council brief for economic development, said: "We want to support businesses and those that create wealth in our borough.

"That is why we are supporting the LEADER programme which will help boost Weymouth and Portland's economy.

"I am pleased that despite facing financial difficulties ourselves, we are doing all we can to help boost the local economy."

The LEADER programme targets, delivers and manages economic investment through Local Action Groups (LAGs).

Weymouth & Portland is covered by the Southern Dorset Local Action Group.

The borough council will contribute £1,700 a year to the Southern Dorset Local Action Group.

The group replaces the previous organisation called Chalk and Cheese, which awarded grants worth £1.66m from 2007-2013 across Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset and Purbeck.