Community groups could feel the pinch after the Vale of White Horse District Council decided to cut the amount of money it will give out in grants.

Cuts to the off-peak opening hours of Tilsley Park and the Guildhall in Abingdon have also been agreed among savings by the council, along with a 4.99 per cent rise in its council tax demand.

This year's £110,000 pot for grants to community groups will be cut by £10,000 from April.

Shadow cabinet member for finance Matthew Barber said that the cost-cutting would hit small community groups hardest.

He said: "The council sees it as a relatively easy way to save money but it will cost people just going about their business, hiring the halls and using the facilities.

"The community groups that use the halls are going to be affected an awful lot, taking £10,000 out of their grants."

Among the community groups that were awarded grants last year was Abingdon open air swimming pool, the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Abingdon Bridge youth club and Christ's Hospital.

Geoffrey Morris, master of Christ's Hospital, said that the charity received £5,000 each year from the district council towards the £75,000 running costs of Albert Park.

He said: "Of course we are not happy. We need every penny we can get.

"We are disappointed as we are a charitable organisation and every penny does count.

"We will just have to find the income from elsewhere, which means there are less funds available for charitable grants."

Tony de Vere, the council's cabinet member for finance, admitted the cuts to community grants were "regrett- able".

He said: "We have to make some savings somewhere and we looked hard at the grants but it's unfortunate that we are having to reduce it.

"It is just one of those things and we hope that we can satisfy all of the requests that we get for the money."

The district council also agreed to increase its budget for the 2008 to 2009 financial year. This will mean an increase for a Band D property in its portion of the council tax from £102.07 to £107.16 per year, although its council tax bill remains one of the lowest in the county.