Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon are to get nearly £1million funding between them.

North Somerset Council is in line for £951,447 to help reinvigorate and improve its seaside resorts.

The money comes from a £4.5m fund under the Government's Sea Change programme, which aims to revitalise the country's seaside towns by investing in resorts' culture and heritage.

The successful schemes were judged to be innovative and aspirational and will provide long term benefit to the public, with priority given to areas of high deprivation.

Culture and Tourism Minister Barbara Follett said resorts from all around the English coast will benefit from the much-needed investment.

"I'm delighted that a further 12 seaside resorts will benefit from the Sea Change scheme," she said.

"The plans put forward are great examples of how investing in our culture and heritage can regenerate our seaside communities.

"I'm pleased that so many seaside resorts around the country have embraced the chance to get involved in the first year of this programme.

"I hope it will continue to be successful, helping to restore pride in our communities and boost visitor numbers to our much-loved coastline."

This is the second set of grants to be awarded in the first year of the £45m programme, which will last for three years and is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Sea Change is being led by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

CABE Chief Executive Richard Simmons, commenting on behalf of the Sea Change partnership, said: "We are pleased to have had applications from such a diverse range of resorts, all with their own character – from the northern borders to the south coast.

"What all the projects share is a desire to use the combination of culture and good design as a catalyst for regeneration.

"From Boscombe to Berwick, resorts are recapturing their innovation and creativity and will hopefully inspire many others to follow."

There are already multi-million plans in place to redevelop the seafront at Weston-super-Mare, including rebuilding the Grand Pier pavilion and Tropicana.