WESTON'S MP, John Penrose, has welcomed the news that the town's quarry and Winscombe's Community Centre will receive a combined total of £1 million to secure their futures.

Weston's Old Town Quarry will be transformed into an arts and cultural hub, and will receive £700,000 to make this possible.

The quarry closed at the end of August due to concerns with the buildings which housed studios and a café.

Councillor John Crockford-Hawley, chair of Weston-super-Mare Town Council's Heritage, Arts and Culture Committee, said: “I would like to thank Weston-super-Mare Town Council officers for working so hard to obtain this grant. It is another superb example of a relatively small council achieving outstanding results.”

Meanwhile, Winscombe Community Centre will get £300,000 for its 'WiNSpace' modernisation project.

Both of these grants will be issued as part of the Government's Community Ownership Fund.

Mr Penrose said: "Both Weston's Quarry and Winscombe's Community Centre thoroughly deserve this Government cash to secure their futures.

"It’s because of the efforts of local residents, backed by local Councils and myself, that Ministers were persuaded these community spaces deserve investment to make sure they will be enjoyed by future generations for many years to come."