A SCHEME to breathe new life into rural communities is calling for businesses to come forward for a pilot village project.

The Vital Village scheme is a six-year initiative run by the Warwickshire and Worcestershire Rural Retail Partnership.

The aim is to revitalise 400 villages across the two counties by offering expertise in economic and community development.

Vital Village organisers, funded by Advantage West Midlands and the Government's Single Regeneration Budget, aim to develop partnerships with groups willing to contribute cash and help manage and implement projects.

Groups that have already signed up to the scheme include the Prince's Youth Business Trust, the Royal Agricultural Society of England and VIRSA.

These offer help and advice on farming businesses, young people's enterprise, knowledge of village shops and IT information.

The idea of the Village Hub is to help an existing business to diversify, or add new services to a shop or pub.

Prince Charles emphasised the point in a recent visit to Cornwall when he said that village pubs should do more than just sell beer.

According to projects co-ordinator Sharon Ham, schemes are already running in Worcestershire and Warwickshire, but more pubs and other businesses are being urged to take part in the pilot scheme.

Grants of up to £10,000 have already been invested in shops."We can help set up a sub post office as well as a grocery and fresh food delivery for customers," she said.

Vital Villages now expects to invest in new technology, such as the internet, home delivery and local produce schemes.

For further information contact Warwickshire and Worcester Rural Retail Partnership on 01926 499664.