MEMBERS of Okement Rivers Improvement Group are hoping to net a £10,000 National Lottery award to help them improve the confluence area behind Okehampton's Lidl's store.
The group, which has been going for more than ten years, aims to enhance the town rivers and riverside for the benefit of the local community and for visitors.
ORIG's last project was to clear and rebuild the weir area at Westbridge area of the river and now it is concentrating on a stretch of bank on the recreation land behind Lidl's superstore.
Christine Marsh, one of the founder members of the Rivers Group, said the group had succeeded in getting through stage one of the lottery fund requirements but needed four letters of support in stage two if it was to progress with a chance of the £10,000.
Last week ORIG asked Okehampton Town Council to write a letter of support on its behalf to the National Lottery, to complement those already provided by Growing Our Futures and Okehampton Primary School.
At a meeting of the council's policy and resources committee members unanimously agreed.
Mrs Marsh said there were not many towns which were at the confluence of two rivers and it was important to keep them clean, unpolluted and the banks litter-free, not just for the sake of appearance but also for all the wildlife which depended upon it.
Volunteers are involved in coppicing, litter-picking and maintenance work along the river banks.
She said: 'New volunteers are always welcome. We've had a lot of young people joining in lately as they recognise the importance of such work to the local environment. Their presence also gives us hope that the work will continue in the future.'
The group meets on the last Saturday of the month at 10am in the Waitrose car park by the recycling containers.