A new iniative to put Torfaen firmly on the lucrative foodie map and on the tourist trail has been launched by the council.

It has secured EU cash of more than £360,000 to help businesses in the area's struggling rural communities.

In a two pronged approach it has launched a Taste of Torfaen as well as annoucing a £1.6m scheme to transform Llanyrafon Manor in a tourist honeypot.

The leader of Torfaen council, councillor Bob Wellington, said: "We are continually working with Torfaen's rural communities to identify and develop the use of land throughout the borough to help their businesses thrive and I am confident A Taste of Torfaen will prove another big success."

A Taste of Torfaen will see £361,444 of funding to help producers in Torfaen's rural wards develop land-based production activities. Support and advice will be available to producers, as well as revenue grants up to £3,000, a series of festivals and events to celebrate local produce, and the development of producer networks.

And in a move to bring more visitors to the area the council is restoring and transforming the Grade-II 17th century Llanyrafon Manor and grounds into a rural heritage centre.

This new facility will be a tourist attraction displaying the history and significance of the manor house and its surroundings and it will feature education and training rooms, spaces for rural businesses, community events and a cafe using local produce Councillor Wellington said: "Our plans for Llanyrafon Manor will encourage even more people to visit this wonderful part of Torfaen and to see for themselves how important our rural communities are."

The projects were unveiled last week as part of the council's Rural Development Plan (RDP) held at the Parkway Hotel.

Both of these schemes are to benefit from European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) funding.

There are seven wards in Torfaen classed as rural and rural-based business in these areas could be eligible for support under the projects. The wards are Llanyrafon South, Blaenavon, Abersychan, Cwmynyscoy, Llantarnam, Two Locks and Wainfelin.