A heritage project spearheaded by a Ribble Valley community leader has been short-listed for a national award.

Clitheroe Youth Forum is one of 10 groups to make it through to the semi-finals of the National Lottery Best Heritage Project Awards.

And now it needs votes to have a fighting chance to scoop the prestigious title.

Mel Diack, leader of the forum who was awarded an MBE for his services in the local community said: “We’re delighted to have reached the semi-finals.

“Lottery funding has helped us to create a website for those from Clitheroe who died during World War Two, along with other servicemen and women and civilians killed from across the Ribble Valley. It has helped us to create a book of remembrance, a Braille book of honour and a film.

“This was really important in helping young people to understand about their heritage. We're really hoping the public gets behind us to vote as it would be fantastic to get national recognition for the work that we do.” The Clitheroe Youth Forum used lottery cash to teach young people about their heritage by involving them in the creation of a remembrance book, a Braille book, a website and a film to remember the 72 servicemen and one woman from the town who were killed in World War Two.

The project was started after it was discovered that a book of remembrance for the Ribble Valley casualties of the war did not exist.

All projects in the running for the award have already received lottery cash and the competition aims to celebrate how they have put the money to good use.

The winning project will go on to receive national recognition on a star-studded BBC One TV show to be aired later this year, as well as £2,000 to spend on the project.

Voting for the semi-finals ends at noon on June 18.

To cast a vote for the Clitheroe Youth Forum, call 0844 686 5959 or log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards