A COMMUNITY green which opened to mark the millennium celebrations but has become overgrown and neglected could be set for a makeover.

The five-acre Millennium Green, Waterside, Colne, was one of 261 created throughout the country with grant money handed out to mark the turn of the year 2000.

But trustees have seen a dip in local enthusiasm to keep it tidy and maintained and residents are being given the chance to vote in a radio poll to ensure that the green gets a spruce-up - and reignite interest in the area.

Pendle Council is battling against other bids in South Ribble, Rossendale, Hyndburn and Lancaster to get a "swat team" from BBC Radio Lancashire to spend a day transforming the site.

If it wins the poll, the green will be visited by a team to remove graffiti, maintain woodland, repair metalwork and paths, and get rid of the weeds.

General maintenance on the site can prove difficult for the volunteers because it is built on former derelict mill land, with terraces and residue of the old buildings still under the grass.

Volunteer Dave Rose said: "People assume the green is the responsibility of the council, but it's not - it's the responsibility of a charity with local people as trustees and we need help.

"We need to re-engage volunteers because people move on and the enthusiasm that was here years ago has now waned.

"Above all we need the help of your hands, your hearts and your minds to reinvigorate interest in this land and get local people regularly supporting this asset because we can't do it all on our own.

"Let us have a SWAT team and let us renew that local enthusiasm for this lung of the local people."

Waterside councillor Tony Greaves said: "We need more people to vote for us.

"If we get enough people from Pendle to vote for us we stand a good chance of winning."

The competition is open until 11am on June 12. To vote for the Millennium Green, text VotePendle to 07786 201955