THEY have transformed a city park into a thriving green space for families and children to flourish.

Now developers need your help to back them in a national award championing regeneration schemes.

The Friends of St James’ Park (FoSJP) clinched £1.3m of National Lottery Funding to boost their £400,000 joint project with Southampton City Council to renovate St James Park in Shirley.

Now they have been shortlisted for the National Lottery Awards celebrating the impacts of lottery- funded schemes.

They need as many public votes as possible to win the Best Environment Project category for a chance to appear at a starstudded ceremony being televised on BBC1 in September.

They are battling six other entries from around the country in one of seven categories.

Improvements to the park included landscaped entrances, a new cafe, botanic and scenic walks and a children’s playground, climbing wall, outdoor gym and tennis courts.

FoSJP heritage coordinator Michaela Lawler-Levene said: “It is fantastic that we are up for this award.

“We initially wanted a toilet and kiosk in the park but we never dreamed it was going to be so adventurous.”

Voting is under way now and ends at midnight on Wednesday, July 24.

Call 0844 836 9687 or visit http://bit.ly/NLAjames to vote.