Two East Sussex towns will get a "new lease of life" under a scheme run by countryside campaigners, it was announced today.
Hailsham and Rye are among 15 small rural towns picked for the scheme.
In West Sussex, Steyning, Storrington, Pulborough, Billingshurst and Midhurst have also been chosen.
The joint Market Towns Initiative, run by the Countryside Agency and the South East England Development Agency, means a healthcheck will allow local people to identify the economic, social and environmental strengths and weaknesses of their town.
The result is a long-term action plan which will help and direct people to decide on their priorities, develop and progress projects and let funders know what is needed locally.
The development agency's rural sector director, Valerie Carter, said "Small rural towns are essential to the wellbeing of rural areas, providing a range of employment opportunities, key services and leisure facilities."
The other eight towns are: Kent - Lenham and Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey. Surrey - Haslemere and Cranleigh. Oxfordshire - Carterton. Isle of Wight - Ventnor, Shanklin and Sandown.
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