A GROUP of York Scouts is planning an ambitious makeover for one of the city's river bank areas after winning £400 in an Evening Press competition.

The Jorvik Explorer Scout Unit plans a major clean-up of the area around the Millennium Bridge with its prize for being the second winner in the Evening Press River Rescue competition.

The Evening Press teamed up with Yorkshire Water as part of the scheme to encourage charities, schools or community groups to come up with projects to help rivers.

Yorkshire Water offered grants worth £400 to groups that came up with the best project.

Laura Denner, of the Scout group, wrote the winning entry for a project on the River Ouse in February and learned she was a winner shortly afterwards.

She said the main aim of the project was to attract more people and wildlife to the river and its surrounding area.

She said: "We have all been inspired by the article in the Evening Press concerning the condition of York's rivers.

"We are all very keen to improve the standards of the river and attract more people."

The group is planning to carry out a number of projects near to the main features of the rivers including the Millennium Bridge.

They want to make sure footpaths are tidy, increase the number of bins and dog bins, establish clear disabled access, and increase cycle routes.

They also want to increase seating and picnic areas, plant trees and shrubs and introduce wildlife attractions such as hedgehog houses, and scented flowers to attract butterflies.

Scout Leader Matt Allen said: "We are looking forward to taking the money and using it to do some of the things on the list and seeing whether it makes a difference."

There are still four grants of £400 left for schools, charities and community groups to get their hands on if they come up with projects to improve a river. It can be a simple as planting new flowers on a river bank or can be something a little more ambitious.

If you would like to enter, send your name, address, telephone number and brief outline of the project to Rosemary Cook, Education Reporter, Evening Press, 76 - 86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN, or email her at rosemary.cook@ycp.co.uk

All entries for this round must be received by April 18.

Updated: 10:02 Monday, March 17, 2003