Uttlesford Community Transport’s project, ‘Accessible Transport for the Disabled’, has secured a £50,000 Big Lottery Fund grant following a nail-biting head-to-head in The People’s Millions on ITV Anglia East last night.

It is fantastic news for the Dunmow-based project which can now to buy a specially built and adapted 15-seater bus with easily moveable seats to enable it to accommodate three wheelchairs. The new bus will replace their older eight-seater bus, enabling door-to-door transportation of more people in the Uttlesford community who would not otherwise be able to travel.

This is the eighth year that the Big Lottery Fund and ITV have given the public the chance to choose where the Lottery good cause cash goes in their region. The People’s Millions public vote determines which deserving cause will win the contest and take the funding back to their community.

This week (November 25-27), projects will be going head-to-head on ITV Anglia East evening news pitching for a grant. There are three awards of up to £50,000 to be won in the region – one award for each night, as well as a bonus award announced on Thursday for the runner up with the most phone votes across the week.

As well as capturing hearts and minds with their TV bid, the projects will also have to mobilise as many phone votes as they can on the day, with lines opening on the morning they are due to appear on ITV Anglia East.

Voting numbers will be available on the day the projects are due to appear on ITV from peoplesmillions.org.uk as well as in the Daily Mirror. Telephone voting lines will open at 9am on each day and close at midnight with winners announced the following day.

Dawn Austwick, chief executive of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “This is a brilliant result for the people of Uttlesford and shows what groups can achieve when they have the support of their community behind them. There are some excellent projects still to be showcased, so tune in to ITV Anglia East, pick up the phone and vote for your favourite project.”

Adam Crozier, chief executive of ITV plc, said: “This is a great opportunity for ITV viewers to have their say in how thousands of pounds of Lottery money, set aside for good causes, can benefit their area. Their support has been terrific so far, and I would encourage people to continue backing their local projects.”

The contest continues tonight Tuesday, November 26, when Norwich-based Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Norfolk will battle it out with Young Adult Carers in Norfolk, run by Norfolk Carers Support also based in Norwich.

Finally, Wednesday, November 27’s head to head will see Funky SX Radio Station and Academy in Southend-on-Sea will take on St Clare West Essex Hospice Care Trust’s project, Space to Breathe - A Family Garden in Harlow.

Since The People’s Millions began in 2005 the competition has funded over 520 diverse community projects UK-wide with an incredible £27.8 million in Big Lottery Fund good cause money.

This year across the UK up to £3.8 million will be awarded by the public through The People’s Millions.