Projects in Dorset have received an unexpected boost from a national supermarket.

Tesco has supported 18 projects in Dorchester, 17 in Blandford and nine in Weymouth as part of its Bags of Help programme, with stores such as Portland Tesco helping with the fundraising effort.

The scheme launched in 2015, and has provided over 10,000 local community groups with £43 million of funding.

In Dorset, this includes £650,610 of funds given directly to community groups.

Bags of Help is one of the many ways that Tesco plays a part in the communities they serve.

Tesco invited customers to vote for which fundraising groups should receive the money which is funded by the sales of carrier bags in Tesco stores.

Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups every time they shop using the blue token given to them at checkouts.

Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding of £1,000 to £4,000.

In Dorset, one of projects funded was Sail Lias, a sailing charity set up to help people with mental health issues in Weymouth.

Alex Brown, head of community at Tesco said: “It’s amazing to think Bags of Help has played a part in helping groups bring 10,000 community projects to life.

“The projects are making a big difference and the dedication of the groups we’ve supported is really inspirational.

“We’re really looking forward to giving a Bags of Help boost to even more projects in the future.”

Tesco works with environmental charity Groundwork to run Bags of Help.

Groundwork’s CEO Graham Duxbury said: “We are delighted that Bags of Help has reached the impressive milestone of funding 10,000 projects that have helped communities up and down Great Britain.

“Since the initiative started we have seen some amazing projects come to fruition and it’s great to know the impressive scale that the programme has on reaching communities that need extra funds to make where they live a better place to be.

“It’s exciting to know that this positive impact can continue and we look forward to seeing even more local communities apply for grants and creating innovative projects that help local people and places.”

Grants are available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities.

Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online.

Visit tesco.com/bagsofhelp