YOUR local school needs you. Highcliffe pupils are urging the public to pick up the phone to support their TV bid for a National Lottery grant.

Students from Highcliffe Secondary School and Sixth Form, in partnership with the tesidents' association, are appearing on Meridian on Wednesday to promote their High Five proposal.

The £70,000 project would create a new ball park, with facilities for netball, basketball and football, plus two youth shelters and the conversion of one building to create an internet facility at Highcliffe Recreation Ground.

In the bid to win funds from the People's Millions - a Big Lottery Fund contest - the initiative will go head-to-head with a skate park proposal in Angmering, West Sussex.

According to John Mather, chairman of Highcliffe Residents' Association, lack of facilities for youngsters was highlighted when the area started to experience a rise in youth problems.

He said: "My two girls grew up in this area and they always said there was nowhere for them to go.

"Demographically, we are severely biased in favour of the older generation but now it is time to support our youths and recognise their needs."

After John contacted the school asking for support, sixth-former Danielle Trudgeon, who is fronting the presentation, was sent to the Meridian studios for on-camera training.

ITV local presenter Gareth Evans and Cherries' team mates Danny Hollands and Josh Gowling spent three hours at the school recording their campaign video.

Highcliffe School team leader Cat Stone said: "We really need everyone in the area to get behind the students and support this proposal.

"Everyone has worked so hard and it would be such a shame if it all went to waste.

"The pupils have done a fantastic job on this project. We wanted them to be the faces of the bid because at the end of the day the project is for their benefit. They are a credit to the school."

  • The bid will be shown on Meridian at 6.30pm on Wednesday, with voting lines open from 9am until midnight.