NEWPORT European Partnership is flagging up the fact that its 50th project to qualify for European structural fund money has just been approved.

Over the last four years about £7.5m of European funds has come Newport's way and, as a result of match funding, an overall total of just under £16.5m has poured into the local economy.

The essential aim of the structural funds is to boost social and economic activity.

The distribution in New-port is overseen by the Newport European Part--nership, a body made up of representatives from the city's private, public and voluntary sectors.

The partnership claims the scope of project activity in Newport is remarkable, ranging from training courses to get the homeless into work, to prestige schemes like the renovation of the upper floors of Newport indoor market for use as business units.

The 50th project to gain approval from the Welsh European Funding Office - a scheme to renovate the Mon & Brec canal - is claimed to typify what European Funds are about.

In addition to increasing employment in the tourism and leisure sectors, it will help restore an important and historic local asset for use by residents.

Partnership chairman David Russ said: "Reaching 50 project approvals is an important landmark for the partnership, but more importantly, for the people and economy of Newport.

"However, we realise that there is still a lot to do in developing more projects that will have a lasting impact on the city, so here's to the next 50!"