AN ALRESFORD preservation project is appealing for votes as part of the National Lottery Awards.

Mind the Gap at the Mid Hants Railway, which provides 14 youngsters with apprenticeships, is urging people to vote after it beat 620 organisations to reach this stage.

It will now compete against six others in the heritage category to win £2,000, a trophy and the chance to attend a prestigious BBC One ceremony in September, hosted by TV star John Barrowman.

It was nicknamed The Watercress Line for its early role in transporting locally grown produce.

Now in its 150th year it is open for visitors.

The Mind the Gap project aims to preserve the line by employing 14 youngsters with two-year apprenticeships in heritage engineering and carpentry.

Derek Simmonds, of the Watercress Line, said: "We are very proud of our Mind the Gap project and are delighted that we have made it through to the finals of the National Lottery Awards.

"Without National Lottery funding we would not have been able to run the project and help secure the heritage of the Watercress Line for future generations.

"Please vote for us, as it would be so wonderful to receive the national recognition that this project, and all our fantastic apprentices, deserve."

Mr Barrowman, star of Torchwood and Zero Dark Thirty, will present the awards for the fifth time in September.

He said: "The exceptionally selfless work carried out by National Lottery Awards finalists never fails to astound me. Their work deserves to be celebrated nationally; the community spirit, social cohesion and compassion."

The National Lottery Award is an annual search for the UK's favourite lottery-funded projects in seven categories: arts, sport, heritage, health, environment, education and voluntary/charity.

Voting is open until midnight on July 29.

Visit lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards or call 0844 836 9673 to vote.