Six parks in running for Boris's £2m grant

SIX London parks have been short-listed for a £2million mayoral grant to build cycle routes and plant flowers and trees.

The scheme is part of Mayor Boris Johnson's Priority Parks project to improve green spaces.

The six parks are Brent River Park in Wembley, Fairlop Waters Country Park in Redbridge, Lordship Recreation Ground in Haringey, Mayesbrook Park in Barking, Wandle Park in Croydon, and Burgess Park in Southwark.

A panel of experts from the Greater London Authority will decide next month which gets the cash.

Residents in Southwark have begun a Facebook campaign to lobby for the grant. The Back The Burgess Park Bid group has 339 members.

Another mayoral competition, Help a London Park, calls on the public to choose 10 green spaces from 47 to receive a £400,000 cash injection. Three Facebook groups have been set up for to encourage residents to vote. The winners will be announced next month.

Mr Johnson said: "Often simple improvements can help people reclaim their local parks."

Southwark council, which has pledged a further £4 million if it wins the bid, has asked residents to put forward suggestions on how to spend the cash.

Londoners can vote at www.london.gov.uk/parksvote, until 30 January.