´óÏó´«Ã½

Launched in 2001, Communities First was the Welsh Assembly Government's flagship scheme to deliver social and economic improvements "from the bottom up."

The idea was to give local people in some of Wales' poorest communities the chance to influence from the grass-roots how public services are delivered to them.

Since then, hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent across the 188 separate Communities First areas - but what's to show for all this investment?

Tonight's Eye on Wales investigates Communities First, revisiting the Penywaun estate in the Cynon Valley to see what effect the scheme has had since presenter Peter Johnson last visited in 2002, when it was in its infancy.

He visits community radio station Dapper FM, which has evolved under the scheme, involving many local people across the age spectrum and providing a focus for the community.

The programme also meets a young man whose life was turned around by Communities First, until funding for the training and development post he held was pulled by the Assembly as a result of a funding shake-up.

And the programme reveals that a Communities First scheme in Wrexham is under investigation by auditors after concerns were raised about the way it was being run.

Meanwhile, Assembly members are preparing to launch their own inquiry into Communities First this week following a critical report by Auditor General for Wales this summer.