VOTING is under way in a contest that could see a project in Weymouth benefit from a share of the biggest cash prize in TV history.

Top windsurfer Nick Dempsey, who won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics, joined schoolchildren at the site of a proposed new bridge in the town to highlight the importance of casting the right vote.

The public are being asked to choose which project should be awarded a £50 million lottery grant.

One of the choices is Sustrans Connect2, a host of environment-friendly projects like walk and cycle routes designed to make journeys easier and reunite communities.

They include a plan to build a new bridge over Newstead Road in Weymouth completing a missing link in the Rodwell Trail.

Mr Dempsey said: "As someone who lives next to Rodwell Trail and cycles every day I am totally in favour of projects to get people out of their cars.

"A vote for Connect2 is a vote for 79 projects around the country including this amazing scheme in Weymouth."

Weymouth and Portland councillors will also be asked to formally back Connect2 at a meeting this Tuesday.

The council, which owns the land around the bridge, has already begun campaigning in partnership with community groups, including putting information on its website and distributing leaflets and posters.

The new bridge will be especially useful for schools because it will extend the route already used by many children.

Holy Trinity School parent governor Steven Booth, who helps co-ordinate four walking buses,' said: "We're all for encouraging walking as much as possible so we're happy to back the bridge and support the Connect2 project."

People can choose between Connect2, Black Country Urban Park, Eden Project and Sherwood Forest.

A series of programmes will be shown on ITV1 next week profiling each project.

Telephone voting begins on Friday, December 7, although people can vote now via the website: www.thepeoples50 million.org.uk Voting lines close at noon on Monday, December 10 and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 12.