PEOPLE in Bourne End are being asked to come together and help shape the future of their village.

A special meeting was held tonight to discuss the Bourne End Healthcheck and try and encourage more people to join the group to take the project forward.

Residents and members of groups in the area crammed into the Bourne End Library to hear from people already involved in the project.

Along with members of the Steering Group, which has orchestrated the development of the scheme in the past couple of years, councillors at all levels and police officers attended the meeting.

One of the speakers at the meeting was Malcolm Godwin, who works as rural town co-ordinator for Bucks County Council, and is helping developing the project.

He was emphasising that now the village has a health check, it can go out and try and get funding for projects now.

Mr Godwin said: "This has been a community lead project. It is important to understand that. It has not come from Bucks County Council or the parish council, it has come from the people of Bourne End. It is your views encompassed in this."

The Healthcheck was completed following years of consultation with residents in the area and sets out different aspects where the area can be improved and lists suggested projects.

Mike Appleyard, parish, district and county councillor for Bourne End, said the fact the Police had attended showed the officers believe the project is important and needs to be developed.