SOUTH Downs campaigners are launching a postcard campaign in the final big push for a national park.

Nearly a quarter of a million postcards have been printed, which the South Downs Campaign (SDC) is distributing.

It is urging people to send them to the Government to demonstrate the strong public support for park status.

The park would stretch from Winchester in the west to east Sussex.

The Government is due to receive the inspector’s report from the reopened public inquiry by the end of this week, with a decision now expected early next summer.

Robin Crane, chairman of the SDC, said: “We hope that we are finally getting close to the end of the process and that this will be our last big push for the national park.

“We hope that people will be inspired by the postcard and send it off to the Government.

Now that the report has been submitted, the Government needs to make a decision without further delay.”