Cash help for anything from street parties to family fun days will soon be on offer to help Dunstablians celebrate the town council's silver anniversary.

A kitty of up to £3,000 has been set aside, and both individuals and groups will be able to apply for grants from £100 to £500 towards all sorts of events.

Grants will be available from Dunstable Town Council from April, for events from then onwards, through to December.

And that could include extra fun activities at the council's own Party in The Park, on May 8.

Members of the finance and general purposes committee approved the idea for the special kitty at their latest meeting.

Town clerk David Ashlee had told them that the idea was to set aside grant funding for local community events, so that there were town-wide celebrations.

He emphasised: "It's not just about the town council, it's about celebrating Dunstable."

A report to the committee said: "The community has a key role to play in ensuring that the anniversary year celebrates the community of Dunstable as a whole.

"There are an increasing number of active community groups and individuals, who are keen to promote Dunstable, and the town council has a role to play as facilitator to such aspirations."

To apply, groups and individuals must write to the council, with details of their proposed event and the costs.

They should also explain how the event meets certain aims, such as developing a sense of local community, developing the town identity and celebrating Dunstable as a town of which people are proud.