Corsham Area Board has distributed its final community grants before May’s elections.

The board unanimously approved a proposal from chairman Councillor Alan Macrae to give £500 to granting five-times Paralympic medallist Stephanie Millward the freedom of Corsham.

Board members praised her work coaching children and her support of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The freedom will be presented to Miss Millward on a day of celebration on March 2.

The Corsham Churches Food Bank will also get £500, to increase storage facilities at St Aldhelm’s Church. The board was told requests to the charity more than doubled, from 14 to 35, last year and space to store donated produce was running out.

Corsham One Mile Running Club was awarded £350, to provide rewards for young people meeting their sporting targets.

The club, used by children aged six to 14, wanted money to buy medals, trophies and T-shirts.

The final Area Board meeting before May’s election also had to decide what to do with surplus money and opted to give it to the community area transport group.

A summary of the board’s previous grants was revealed at last week’s meeting, held at Lacock Village Hall. In the last four years, £119,655 has been allocated, 40 per cent to projects involving young people.