NORTH Bradley Peace Memorial Trust is bidding to bag a cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative and wants the local community to show support.

The monthly funding scheme launched by Tesco gives grants of £5,000, £2,000 and £1,000, all raised from the 5p bag levy, awarded to local outdoor community projects.

Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and this month shoppers can vote for who they think should take away the top grant.

North Bradley Peace Memorial Trust is one of the groups on the shortlist and wants to scoop the cash for its safe children's play area project, which involves addressing a dangerous ditch next to the play area.

Wendy Knighton, chairman of the trust, said: “We try to get as many grants as possible to make improvements to the village hall and play area but it’s not always easy.

“So we really need the highest grant in order to fill in a ditch which has been at the bottom of the play area for years. It’s a risk and we really want to prevent children from going near it.

“The idea is to install some drainage so that it doesn’t fill with water like it often does and to block it off, whether that’s by putting some fencing up around it or covering it completely.

“It’s really important for the community that the village hall and field is the best it can be, so we’re encouraging people to go along to Tesco and vote for us.”

Voting is open in stores up until January 28 and customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the checkout in store each time they shop.

Lindsey Crompton, head of community at Tesco, said: “We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for January.

“There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see them come to life in hundreds of communities.”