AN ENVIRONMENTAL charity has awarded a grant to boost the natural beauty and sustainability of a stream running through Sidcup.

The £31,000 grant will preserve and improve the site in Foots Cray Meadows, Ladbroke Crescent.

Veolia Environmental Trust has given the money to waterways charity Thames21 to develop a volunteer-run scheme to preserve the stream’s ecology and ensure the site can be enjoyed by the nearby community.  

Veolia’s senior programme manager Chris Coode said: "This grant is great news - it means we can push the project forward and start work on the much-needed improvement of the stream."

The charity’s executive director Paul Taylor said: "This is a fantastic start to 2014, both for us and the projects we have awarded grants to.

"This scheme will benefit the environment, wildlife and the local community, and I look forward to seeing it start and take shape."