TENS of thousands of pounds is set to go towards the Armed Forces community, The £70,000 will be used to help deliver the Armed Forces Covenant in Colchester, Tendring and Braintree.

The trio of authorities submitted a successful joint application for cash from a £10million national pot.

The covenant outlines a moral obligation between the nation, the Government and the Armed Forces.

It encourages communities to support the military community in their area and promote public understanding and awareness of the issues affecting them.

Lyn Barton (Lib Dem), who is Colchester’s Armed Forces champion and a borough councillor, said: “I’m absolutely delighted our bid was a success.

“It means we’ll be able to extend even closer ties with the Armed Forces community, our partners and businesses to ensure all those who have served, and continue to protect our nation, receive the fair treatment they deserve.

“Employing a dedicated officer will enable a step-change in the way we drive forward the aims and objectives of the covenant within our borough.”

In Colchester, the cash will be used to improve information sharing with military personnel and specialised training for frontline staff, managers and councillors.

An MoD spokesman said: “It’s about building bonds between the military and civilian community and levelling out some of the difficulties the military community can find accessing services.

“Troops move on to different jobs roughly every two to three years so with them being uprooted, they’re unable to establish that firm base.

“In some ways it exists in Colchester without it being signed on paper as there’s always been a strong mindful link between the garrison and the civilian population beyond that.”