A STOURPORT heritage restoration project has battled its way through to the final stage of a prestigious national competition and needs people’s votes to be a winner.

The National Lottery Awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects and the Restoration of Stourport’s Canal Basins is in the running for the award for best heritage project.

It has to beat two other finalists in its category to collect prize money of £2,000 to spend on the project.

Chris Bailey, programme manager for Restoration of Stourport’s Canal Basins, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have reached the final of the awards and want to thank everyone who has supported us so far.

“We hope that people will vote for us to win so that our staff and volunteers receive the recognition they deserve for helping with this project that has restored the basins back to their former glory.”

Stourport’s canal basins played a vital role in developing the UK’s canal transport system. The project enabled the restoration of canal structures such as locks and 28 buildings, and the landscaping of public areas.

The five canal basins that make up the docks where the narrow boats were loaded and unloaded have now been restored and turned into a major community resource and tourist attraction.

This year’s National Lottery Awards are supported by television and radio presenter, Jackie Brambles.

She said: “Each year these awards recognise the incredible impact that Lottery-funded projects have on people and communities across the UK.

“The team at Restoration of Stourport’s Canal Basins are an amazing group of people doing great work in their local community.

“They’ve done so well to reach the final of the awards so please take the time to support them – every vote really does make a difference.”

The awards have seven categories to reflect each area of Lottery funding, and all seven winners will be announced during a special star-studded BBC1 programme, The National Lottery: Big 7, broadcast live on September 5.

Now in their sixth consecutive year, the awards recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects - both big and small - make to local communities, and celebrate the achievements of the people behind them.

Voting for the final starts today at 9am and ends at midday on Friday, August 14. The public can vote by calling 0844 686 3010 or going online to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards