North Herts District Council is calling on Tesco shoppers to vote for their scheme to help provide a new play area in Letchworth.

The council has been shortlisted to take part in the Tesco Bags of Help initiative – a community funding scheme run by the supermarket and Groundwork East.

The scheme awards grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – all raised by the 5p bag charge – to local community projects, like the one in store for the Jackmans estate.

The range of gym style play equipment that will be provided will be dependent on a public vote that will take place in Tesco Stores.

From today to Monday, January 1 2018, Tesco customers – who visit Tesco Extra on Baldock High Street, Letchworth Tesco Express on Bedford Road, Tesco Express on Southfields Road, Letchworth and Tesco Express in Stotfold – will be invited to vote for their favourite local project.

The project with the highest number of votes across the participating stores will receive up to £4,000, the second placed project up to £2,000 and the third placed project £1,000.

Councillor Jane Gray, NHDC’s executive member for leisure, said: “We urge residents across the district to cast their vote in one of the participating stores.

“This new play area will provide an excellent opportunity for local people to go outside and get active whilst having fun. The more votes it gets the more equipment can be provided, so please, cast your votes!”

NHDC’s project will be competing for votes against two other shortlisted projects.

Hitchin Fire Station are in the running for votes with a plan to provide online water safety videos for students while Norton St Nicholas School are bidding to revamp their outside play area.

Groundwork East carried out a series of consultation events prior to making the bid to find out what residents on the Jackmans estate wanted from the play area.

When the vote closes, it is expected that the play area will be complete and ready for local children and adults to use by the end of March 2018.

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund projects that benefit local communities. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit groundwork.org.uk/tesco.