Pubs in Wales will receive more than £690,000 from the Community Ownership Fund to allow them to stay open.

The Cross Inn and the Tafarn Crymych Arms in Pembrokeshire will get £244,250 and £210,000. Elsewhere the Radnor Arms Hotel, in Powys, will receive £244,000 to renovate the building into a community pub.

The money will allow locals to restore the pubs so they can benefit their communities and attract visitors.

It comes as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced the latest allocations from the second round of the £150m Community Ownership Fund.

The money will help community groups take ownership of local institutions that have fallen into disrepair or are under threat of closure and give them a new lease of life, ensuring they continue to provide vital services, create opportunities and boost local economies.

Recent changes to the fund now mean that the amount all projects can bid for has increased from £250,000 to £1m, making it easier for community groups to seize back control of prized assets that are at risk of being lost.

Welsh secretary David TC Davies (pictured) said: “I’m delighted to see community projects in Wales attracting about 11 per cent of the total amount available from the Community Ownership Fund in this current round.

“That means more valuable assets in Wales are being saved for future generations. In many rural areas the pub is the lifeblood of the village, creating jobs and boosting the local economy, as well as providing locals with a place to socialise and come together. Congratulations to all the successful projects.”

UK government minister for Levelling Up Dehenna Davison said: “We’re proud to be supporting people to take control of community assets like pubs in Wales. Places like these play a vital role in their communities, and we want local people to reap the benefits from them for as long as possible.”