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ISLE OF WIGHT HERITAGE PROJECT NEEDS YOUR VOTE

Isle of Wight project, the Isle of Wight Railway Restoration, needs your vote this week as it goes head to head with other Lottery-funded projects from across the UK in the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards 2010.

The Isle of Wight Railway Restoration is one of only 10 projects to make it through to the Best Heritage Project category of The National Lottery Awards, which are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. Residents and visitors to the Isle of Wight are being urged to show their support by casting a vote to help the Isle of Wight Railway Restoration make it through to the final stage.

The project restored Victorian and Edwardian passenger carriages and goods wagons, enabling residents and visitors to the Isle of Wight to take a trip back in time on the 100-year-old steam trains. It also made an effort to involve local people in the restoration and educational aspects of the railway.

Steve Oates, of the Isle of Wight Railway Restoration project, says: "It’s fantastic to have reached the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards. Our heritage Railway has a unique collection of historic steam locomotives, Victorian and Edwardian carriages, and other rare rolling stock, all of which is recognised to be of national importance.”

“Lottery funding is so important to us; it has helped us to secure a fascinating piece of Island railway history, and to ensure we can continue to restore, preserve and operate these unique railway vehicles for future generations to enjoy. We're really hoping the public gets behind us to vote as it would be a real boost to get national recognition for the work that we do.”

Voting for the semi-finals starts at 9am on Tuesday 1 June and ends at midday on Friday 18 June. To cast a vote for the Isle of Wight Railway Restoration call 0844 686 9460 or log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards

The three projects in each category with the highest number of votes will go through to the final round of public voting in July.