Land Rover has launched a new bursary scheme - being backed by the Prince of Wales - to support countryside communities.

The new Land Rover scheme, in partnership with the Prince’s Countryside Fund, will offer a bursary to five individuals or groups who can demonstrate that the use of a Freelander 2 for a year would enable them to support their rural community.

The scheme was launched in Cumbria at a Land Rover driver-training programme, where the Prince of Wales highlighted the need to help Britain’s rural economy, and called for more support for countryside communities.

In his speech the Prince of Wales said: “I really want to use this opportunity today to express my warmest possible gratitude to Land Rover for their really remarkable generosity in ensuring we now have this splendid scheme.

“Land Rover, as a fully-fledged supporter of the Prince’s Countryside Fund, is creating a bursary of its own with the gift of five Freelander 2s for a year which can be won by five individuals who can demonstrate that they will be using the cars for the rural community.

“It is this sort of willingness to be involved that makes a fantastic difference in ensuring we can maintain the priceless national asset that is our British countryside.”

Laura Schwab, marketing director of Land Rover UK, said: “Having reliable and dependable transport to work in the countryside is essential and we hope these bursaries will benefit entrepreneurial farmers.”

Victoria Harris, director of the Prince’s Countryside Fund said: “We are delighted to announce that applications are now open for our Land Rover vehicle bursary and are excited about the variety of people and businesses that we are expecting to apply. 4x4 vehicles are crucial in helping rural businesses get around the countryside for their daily business needs and providing this opportunity to our rural communities is a fantastic thing to be able to do.”

In January Land Rover announced a three-year partnership with the Prince’s Countryside Fund.