A HISTORIC Hampshire landmark has bagged itself a major financial boost.

Bursledon Windmill is to receive a windfall of £10,000 from a supermarket initiative thanks to shoppers.

Those responsible for the attraction, built in 1814, plan to use the funds from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme to improve access and bring in more visitors.

The Bags of Help initiative saw three community groups in each region go head to head for grants of £8,000, £10,000 and £12,000 – all raised from the 5p bag charge.

People could vote in Tesco stores in the region over the past few weeks on which project should receive which amount.

Eight million shoppers voted in stores up and down the country by using a token given to them at the check-out in store.

Bursledon Windmill is the only working windmill remaining in Hampshire and the only working windmill in England with an all-timber wind shaft.

Thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and additional funding from Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council, it was restored between 2014 and 2015 by the Hampshire Cultural Trust to working order.

It relies largely on money from the two councils and its own fundraising.

The trust says this award will help it to further develop the grounds of the windmill as an education resource, enhancing its position as a public attraction.

Janet Owen, chief executive officer of Hampshire Cultural Trust said: “We are tremendously grateful to the public for sharing our vision and passion for improving the grounds and access to Bursledon Windmill.

“As a heritage site we want to create the opportunity for as many people as possible to see and experience this unique and iconic windmill in action.

"This grant will help us to achieve this.”

Caroline Silke, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response of our customers and the feedback has been brilliant.

“We can’t wait to see the money being put to use bringing these projects to life.”

Nominations and applications for the next round of Bags of Help funding will open on April 18.

As well as applying direct, suggestions for projects can also be nominated by people living locally.