Schemes designed to brighten-up Wantage have received a cash boost -- but it may not be enough to prevent the projects folding.

Wantage in Bloom and the Christmas lights display team were given an anonymous donation of £1,000.

Wantage Joint Environmental Trust also announced it would set aside £2,000 towards the projects.

Organisers hope to install permanent stands in the town centre to erect hanging baskets and lights during the festive season.

The team, which has raised £6,000, hopes the extra money will boost its efforts to attract a worker to water the baskets.

Members need someone to spend an hour every evening watering the flowers throughout the summer.

Joyce Hutchinson, who is involved with both projects, said residents and businesses needed to show more support to secure the future of the schemes.

She said: "Businesses will not have the flowers because there's no-one to water them. Things have come to a standstill.

"We have the funding in place to pay for someone to do the watering.

"The donations mean we can offer more money for the job."

Wantage mayor Jenny Hannaby said it was scandalous that businesses had not been more supportive.

She added: "We need to encourage more people to help in these community initiatives."

For more information, call 01235 760845.