More than 50,000 trees are to be planted in urban communities following the allocation of the first round of the Urban Tree Challenge Fund.

Thirteen councils and organisation will use a share of the £10m fund to plant over 22,000 large trees and 28,000 small trees in urban areas.

The Urban Tree Challenge Fund will see 130,000 trees planted in towns and cities by 2021.

Sir Harry Studholme, chair of the Forestry Commission, said: 'It is such great news that the first year of the Urban Tree Challenge Fund has been so successful and able to reach so many places.

'The fund focuses on areas of high deprivation and low tree canopy cover where every tree planted has the change to provide the greatest impact.

Slough Borough Council, one of the successful applicants, will plant over 8,000 trees in urban areas that directly benefit local air quality and protect the town from floods.