CHILDREN at Soudley Primary School were keeping their fingers crossed on Tuesday night for a £50,000 lottery grant.

The school, which has teamed up with the Soudley Blakeney Community Gateway Project, plans to re-establish an ancient pathway that follows the brook between the two villages.

Their project appeared on ITV Tea Time Topical News after 6pm asking for viewers' votes with the winner being announced in tonight's show (Wednesday).

Back in March, community projects co-ordinator for Two Rivers Housing, Jane Cordier applied for the grant through the Big Lottery People's Millions scheme, a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund and ITV.

As part of improving links between the two villages, the Soudley Blakeney Gateway Project – part of the Blakeney Community Green ­­– approached the school and is now in the final two against a project from Frome in North Somerset.

The grant will not only have huge benefits for the children's learning but allow Soudley to share the facilities in Blakeney, which will ultimately increase visitors to both villages and support the local trade.

Jane said: "The path will bring with it numerous benefits for both Soudley and Blakeney. It will support and engage the two schools, promote outside learning and encourage walking. The younger people in the isolated village of Soudley will have the opportunity to get out of the village which will stop them feeling 'trapped.' It is hoped that delivering this project will not just join the villages physically, but also in terms of building friendships between residents in Soudley and Blakeney by working towards and hopefully achieving the same goal."

To vote call 0871 626 8892 (you can vote 10 times from the same number. Lines close tonight (Wednesday).