More than £500,000 will be available to Swindon’s Troubled Families Programme.

Robert Jenrick, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, announced a £165m boost to the scheme with Swindon receiving just over £600,000.

The funding provides support for families in Swindon affected by unemployment, poor school attendance and domestic abuse.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said: “I am delighted that some of the most vulnerable families in Swindon will benefit from this additional funding to support them through the pressures they face.

“The Troubled Families Programme has a proven record of success and I am very pleased to see the government investing in it.”

Since the scheme began in 2015, 297,733 families have made improvements after joining the programme. In 26,848 of those families, one or more adults have moved off benefits and into work.

The programme was due to end in March, but with the recent funding boost will now continue to 2021.