Less than two months after it opened Sunderland Aquatic Centre has been shortlisted for a national award - but it needs your help to win!

It is one of only 10 projects to have been chosen from hundreds of entries to face a public vote to find the Best Sports Project in the National Lottery Awards. The winner will be featured on the BBC 1 Lottery programme.

As the only Sports Project in the region to have been shortlisted, the venue is flying the flag for the North East. It is also the only swimming project to make it into the final 10 so please show your support.

It's easy to vote, simply click on the following weblink <http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards> and go to the Best Sports Project category or call 0845 3863213 to register your vote. Every vote counts so please help us get as many votes as we can and give Sunderland and the North East the recognition it deserves. Voting closes on 4th July.