A Shropshire-based action group which has reached the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards 2008 will battle it out for a cash prize and a star slot on a prime time TV show.

The Bishop’s Castle-based “Playing Fields for the 21st Century” will go head-to-head with other lottery-funded projects for the chance to win £2,000 and the opportunity to star in a special BBC1 show scheduled for later in the year.

It is one of only 10 projects to make it through to this stage in the Woman magazine Award for Best Charity/ Voluntary project category.

This project is run by the Friends of Bishop’s Castle Playing Fields, who launched a community-wide initiative to redevelop the areas playing fields and facilities, with the help of lottery funding.

This helped to finance a new play area, gardens and the restoration of a Victorian water fountain.

Funding also enabled the project to build a new youth shelter and a stage so bands can perform.

A new mosaic seat and arch were constructed by a craftsman with the mosaic workshops involving the community.

Lynne Farr, from Playing Fields for the 21st Century, said: “We’re really pleased to have reached the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards. Lottery funding has made a real difference to our project and has helped us to develop and grow. We’re really hoping the public get behind us and vote.”