A SOMERSET County Councillor has been handing out Christmas gifts to the community from her Health and Wellbeing pot.

Ilminster County Councillor Linda Vijeh gave three-figure amounts to both Neroche School and Ilmisnter Literary Festival in the build up to Christmas.

Linda said: "There is nothing like being able to give money away for good causes, especially at Christmas time.

"In the case of Neroche School the £570 they received will be spent on developing the children’s communication skills through interacting and aiding their understanding of the local environment by growing their own food.

"The area the school wants to develop is also where the parents pick them up, creating opportunities for the children to show their parents their new outdoor learning skills and celebrate their local environment."

Ilminster Rotarians, led by Brenda Lake, received £750 to help kick start the first ever Ilminster Literary Festival next year.

"This will provide Ilminster residents of all ages, genders and social groups the opportunity to engage with local authors, publishers, poets and other literary figures at affordable prices and to provide a forum to enable cultural exchange through literature," Cllr Vijeh said.

The Festival is scheduled to take place over an eight day period from June 1 to 9.

It will be held throughout a wide range of venues across the whole town, including the Warehouse Theatre, Swanmead and Greenfylde schools, The Meeting house, Muchelney House, local cafes and coffee shops.

She added: "The important outreach aspect of the project will include specifically tailored activities for the local Memory café in addition to readings and other creative workshops that will include both school children and those who live in residential homes and access day centres in the town with the intention of stimulating mental wellbeing and a feeling of inclusion for those suffering with mental or physical disabilties."