MORE than £1million in Government grants will be handed out to councils across south Essex to help business growth.

Southend was the biggest winner in the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive grants, which were announced by the Federation of Small Businesses on Friday.

The borough was given £561,714, as part of the scheme, which was set up three years ago, to reward local authorities whose income from business rates has increased significantly during the year.

The money is not ring fenced and councils are free to spend the money as they wish.

Simon Swords, is the chairman of the south east Essex branch of the federation and owns Atlas Computing in Southend.

He said: "Some of the one off grants are significantly higher than they received last year.

"We believe money should be spent on schemes which directly benefit businesses and helps further improve the business environment in the hope that similar grants can be generated in future years.

"We are particularly keen to support projects which help reduce the levels of crime against businesses and hope t local councils will be willing to work with us to get maximum benefit for the business community from these grants."

For the first time Basildon Council got a grant totalling £172,480, Castle Point got £159,394 and Rochford £254,433.