YOUNG footballers in Hook are the big winners in a scheme to spend the cash we are all now paying for plastic bags when we go shopping.

The major supermarkets have set up several projects to recycle the new 5p bag charge. And Tesco has announced the results of its Bags of Help scheme, following a week of voting earlier this month.

Bags of Help offers community groups and projects in each of Tesco’s 390 regions across the UK, using a share of revenue generated by the carrier bag charge.

The three local projects in the running were Hook In Bloom, Hook United Youth FC and Odiham Trails. They competed for three levels of funding; £8,000, £10,000 and £12,000.

And last week it was revealed that the football club has won the big prize. The club can now set about improving the drainage of the pitches in Hartlett’s Park at the A30 end. Flooding often makes the ground there unplayable in winter.

Club Secretary Ian Warner said: “We are delighted to have secured this funding through the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

“It will make a significant contribution towards the development of our younger playing members through an improved playing surface and more match time.”

The second level of funding goes to Odiham Parish Council for its Odiham Trails project. It plans to use the £10,000 to spruce up the Canal Wharf area of the Basingstoke Canal, near the Waterwitch Pub.

The works will include improved landscaping, new picnic benches and an upgrade to the adjacent car park. The chairman of Odiham Parish Council, Jon Hale was delighted: “This money will allow us to help fulfil the firm desire from within the community to provide residents and visitors with an attractive destination and explore our village and the surrounding countryside, including the Basingstoke Canal.

“By providing clear signage to the walks, showing people where they can go and what they can see, we can link the canal, common and castle together into a great visitor proposition. That should attract people to Odiham to enjoy this wonderful green space and help them learn about the history and nature that make it so special.”

Meanwhile Hook In Bloom picks up £8,000. The project will aim to spruce up the village with planting schemes, and a competition centred on a traditional flower and produce show.

In Bloom volunteer Sue Hinton, said: “This is a wonderful and welcome boost from Tesco for our project.

“We aim to make Hook a bright and colourful place in which to live, work and visit. Everyone will benefit from the various In Bloom initiatives.”

Nominations and applications for the next round of funding from Bags of Help will open on April 18. You can apply for your own community project, or nominate someone else’s.