The West of England is one of just six local initiatives across the UK to receive a major cash boost to increase tree cover in the area.

It will receive almost £260K from the Woodland Trust's Emergency Tree Fund - a pot of cash awarded in grants to local authorities across the country to plant trees and create green spaces.

The funding is part of an overall £2.1 million package of support from Amazon's Right Now Climate Fund.

The Enduring Roots and New Shoots project which covers the West of England aims to plant more than 24,000 native trees, increasing green space and boosting local ecosystems.  The collective vision is to double tree cover.

Dr Darren Moorcroft, the Woodland Trust’s chief executive, said this funding will help local authorities overcome barriers which prevent them from taking action.

He said: “With the droughts this year, it has shown us it has never been more important to look at how we adapt to the changing climate in this country.

“This funding, thanks to generous support from Amazon, gets to the heart of the matter by targeting councils. With so many financial strains it can be tough for them to take action in this area."