THE MP for Mid Worcestershire has encouraged residents to make the most of their heritage.

Nigel Huddleston attended a parliament event hosted by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and claimed that Wychavon residents should think about applying for funding.

Mr Huddleston discovered that of the 326 local authority districts in England, Wychavon sits in the 85th position overall.

He said: "It was great to attend this event and hear more about Mid Worcestershire’s heritage assets and how they are being used by the community.

"I would urge constituents to think about the local heritage where they live, and think about how they could apply to HLF to undertake a project to explore it further. Heritage is at the heart of what makes a place distinctive.

"The Heritage Index is a useful tool to help communities better understand their heritage and tap into its vast potential.

"Securing National Lottery funding is one way of helping to fulfil that potential and it’s been making a difference to local communities across the UK for over 20 years."

Produced in collaboration with the HLF, the Heritage Index is an annual index that combines over 120 metrics, from historic buildings to local delicacies, showing which local authorities are best at using their heritage.

As well as inherited physical assets such as battlefields and castles, the index measures new forms of heritage activity like community initiatives and volunteering.

Since the National Lottery started in 1994, the National Lottery Fund has awarded almost £16million to more than 95 projects in Mid Worcestershire.