Exmouth and East Devon MP Hugo Swire has welcomed a new government fund for coastal communities worth �23.7m annually and is urging organisers of local projects to bid.

The government has announced that it is launching a new fund to support the economic development of coastal communities.

This will support a wide range of projects, including those that support charities, the environment, education and health – examples of projects could include support for developing renewable energy, improving skills or environmental safeguarding or improvement.

This will be paid for by allocating half of the revenue raised by the Crown Estate’s marine activities, and is estimated to be �23.7 million in its first year, opening in April 2012.

Mr Swire said: “This is great news for East Devon and I encourage local projects to apply. This has the potential to have a real and lasting impact on our local economy.”