A GREEN campaign group in Winchester is one step closer to receiving a community grant to get people growing their own food.

Incredible Edible Winchester, part of Winchester Action on Climate Change, wants to encourage growing and eating fresh, local food in hopes of creating green spaces and healthier communities that are resilient to climate change.

Now the group is campaigning for votes which could see it win £3,000 from Lloyds Bank Community Fund.

If awarded, the money would help set up community food gardens and ‘pocket growing spaces’ across the district.

Eleanor Waterhouse, one of IEW’s founding members and finalist of BBC’s Allotment Challenge, urged people to vote.

She said: “The Lloyds Bank Community Fund will make a huge difference to IEW by enabling us to transform the many wasted spaces into food growing areas and get people involved.

“This could make a big difference to the lives of local people providing them with the ways and means of getting tasty local vegetables and fruit. Please vote for us so we can get digging!”

The community fund was set up to help people across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man have a positive impact on their community.

Four causes are shortlisted per area, and the group with the most votes gets £3,000, with the others receiving £2,000, £1,000 or £500 depending on the votes cast.

In Winchester Blue Apple Theatre, The Olive Branch Christian Counselling Service and Fordingbridge Community First Responders have also applied for the grant.

Voting closes on October 10.

For more information go to lloydsbank.com/communityfund.