SUPPORTERS of the Newbridge Memorial Hall's bid to win a makeover say they are confident with hard work they can now go all the way.

On Sunday night the Grade II listed building polled 44 per cent of the votes to beat off tough competition and win the Welsh heat of the BBC2 programme Restoration.

Now dedicated volunteers, who want to use the cash to restore the breathtaking art-deco cinema, theatre and dance hall, are preparing for a vigorous campaign - backed by the Argus - ahead of the grand final on August 8.

Howard Stone, chairman of the Friends of Newbridge Memo, said: "As we are now representing Wales we will be appealing for people across the country to get behind us.

"We particularly need to get the message out to miners' institutes and workingmen's clubs in similar communities to support our bid."

Two of the other seven projects who will battle it out for the guaranteed £2.5 million Heritage Lottery Fund award, with a likely £500,000 from phone calls, have already been announced.

The 12th century Grade I listed Archbishop's Palace in Charing, Kent, and Grade A listed Knockando Wool Mill in Moray, Scotland, will provide stiff competition for the Newbridge Memo.

Supporters of the semi-ruined Archbishop's Palace want to turn it into a community centre and home for the local parish council, while supporters of the Knockando Woollen Mill hope to secure the cash prize and turn the mill into a museum.

But the Memo's supporters are confident they can rise to the challenge. Howard Stone said he believed the project had a "damn good chance" of scooping the ultimate prize.

He said: "We're not fooling ourselves, we still know we have a hill to climb, but I'm confident we can do it.

"The Newbridge Memo is a unique project. It represents everything that is good about history. Historic buildings don't have to be hundreds or thousands of years old and represent only wealth or status.

"The Memo was built by a group of courageous miners who took out a mortgage to benefit their community.

"Society in general has become more selfish over the years but projects like this can really pull people together."