THREE parks in Barry are in the running to be crowned winners of the Fields in Trust UK's Best Park award, ahead of a public vote that will conclude early next month.

Porthkerry Country Park is joined by Romilly Park and Victoria Park as three of the 13 Welsh nominations for the UK-wide competition, which features 360 different green spaces to choose from.

Nominations include small community gardens and large nature reserves, sports fields and playgrounds, with each one valued by its community and nominated by their regular visitors.

The competition will see the park with the most votes in each of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland shortlisted, with nominators invited to attend the Fields in Trust Awards at Lord’s Cricket Ground in November.

Fields in Trust chief executive Helen Griffiths, said: " Despite their clear health benefits, parks and green spaces are facing an uncertain future - across the UK outdoor spaces are under threat.

"The UK’s Best Park Award celebrates the parks and green spaces which are so vital to the communities that use them.

"Recognising the UK's Best Park is a way of revaluing our green spaces; not viewing them just as a drain on resources for maintenance and upkeep - but seeing what benefits they bring; access to good quality recreational space can contribute to the physical and mental health of their local population and provide places for people to get together for community events."

In 2016, Rouken Glen Park in East Renfrewshire was named UK's Best Park out of a field of 214 nominations.

To vote for your favourite, visit: fieldsintrust.org/bestpark/wales by 5pm on Friday, November 3.