THIS week is the last chance to vote for a run-down Leyton green space to get a £400,000 make-over.

The Help a London Park competition - run by the London Mayor’s office - closes on Friday when all votes will be counted and Londoners will find out which ten parks out of 50 will receive a much-needed make-over to make them “cleaner, safer, greener, and nicer” places to visit.

Marsh Lane fields, in Leyton, is the only park in Waltham Forest to be in the running for the cash, and the Guardian is urging readers who are yet to vote to select this neglected land.

The area has suffered from fly-tipping, vandalism and graffiti and if it wins the funding, it could be used to improve security and put in new paths, a bridge and signs.

The money could also be used to help wildlife diversity by improving grassland habitats, developing a wild flower meadow, introducing native trees, installing nesting boxes for birds, bats and insects - although a public consultation is expected to find out what people want the money spent on.

Katy Andrews, of the New Lammas Defence Committee, said: “It has been plagued with littering, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour. The cost of maintaining it, because of all the problems, have made it unsuitable for many uses.

“We have been trying to get improvements made for a long time, and unfortunately when the London Development Agency put the temporary allotments in, local people were not asked for their suggestions for improvements. So here is a chance to put this right.

“The main thing we would like to see is the wooden foot-bridge replaced.”

Geraldine Reardon, Waltham Forest Council portfolio holder for arts and culture, said: “The real winners would be all the children from across our borough whose schools would use the park for studying wildlife diversity and the natural environment.

“This is a one-off chance to turn an under-used piece of land into a real learning resource for the community.”

Voting closes at 5pm on Friday. Votes can be made online, by post or by text.

Residents can vote for Marsh Lane in three ways:

1) By logging on to london.gov.uk/parksvote/

2) Texting PARKS followed by your full POSTCODE to 62967 to vote for the NEAREST shortlisted park to where you live in your borough. Texts cost 10 pence plus standard network rate.

3) Request a postal vote form by calling 020 7983 4100.