Charities in Oxfordshire are today invited to join the bidding for grants totalling almost $1m.

The Gannett Foundation, run by The Oxford Mail's parent company, will hand out the cash to charities in the circulation areas of its UK newspapers.

The money available this year has increased by £26,422, from £486,164 to £512,586 -- $970,000.

Last year, five Oxfordshire charities received grants totalling more than £11,000 from the foundation.

One was the Friends of Ormerod School, the special school which shares a site with the Marlborough School in Shipton Road, Woodstock. It used a £3,700 grant to buy a physiotherapy exercise bike.

The charity teaches an academic and "physical" curriculum to pupils aged between 11 and 16. Headteacher Clive Peters said receiving the grant had paid for an invaluable piece of equipment. He said: "It's wonderful to get this additional money and it's so good to have something that is enjoyed every day." To be eligible, charities have to operate in the circulation area of a Newsquest newspaper and take a creative approach to issues affecting young people and those with learning or physical disabilities.

Applicants must be registered charities and use the correct form for their application to be processed.

Charities must submit four copies of the application. Applicants who have received a Gannett Foundation grant in the past 12 months are not eligible.

Charities should keep copies of all applications for their own records.

Oxford Mail editor Simon O'Neill said: "There is almost $1m available this year and I would dearly love all the money to go to Oxfordshire.

"Of course that won't happen, but I would urge all interested parties to get their applications in as soon as possible and we will do our level best to make sure they get due consideration."

Call Caroline Hyland on 01865 425407 for an application form.