A BURNLEY project that helps youths involved in street crime and gangs has reached the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards 2008.

Leap Confronting Conflict: Gangs & Territorialism, will battle it out gainst other Lottery-funded projects from across the UK for the chance to win £2,000 to spend on their project and the opportunity to star in a special prime-time BBC1 TV show.

The project, which encourages young people to face up to the challenging issues and the consequences of their behaviour, is one of only 10 projects to make it through to this stage in the Best Education category.

It works at street level to show the pros and cons of gang life and the impact this has on those involved.

Jennifer Rogers, from the project, said: "We're really pleased to have reached the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards.

"Lottery funding has made a real difference to our project and has helped us to develop and grow.

"We're really hoping the public get behind us and vote."

The three projects in each category with the highest number of votes will go through to the finals of the awards and appear on a special BBC1 Saturday night TV show later in the year.

Public voting for the semi-finals started yesterday and ends at midday on Friday, July 4.

To register a vote for the project call 0845 386 5827 or log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards