THE final touches are being put to a bid to transform the face of Worcester's riverside.

Worcester City Council has just three days left to produce a plan that will impress Lottery judges in an attempt to win £25m backing.

Three new bridges, a public square, and a lighthouse are among the key features of the ambitious project being put forward to the Big Lottery Fund for its one-off Living Landmarks scheme. Grants of between £10m and £25m will be made to successful organisations out of the pot of £140m, but with more than 150 submissions expected, the local bid needs to stand out. The vision is to make Worcester a first-rate cathedral city and to link people and places.

Worcester City Council's chief executive David Wareing said: "The River Severn has sometimes been viewed as something that divides, rather than unites Worcester.

"But we believe we can create an environment that draws people to the waterfront areas and helps them to see the river not just as something to cross, but something to celebrate.

"The river is already a landmark and water is the embodiment of life, so we feel uniquely positioned to take advantage of the Living Landmark programme and create a long-lasting legacy for the city."

The local authority has been urging people to voice their opinions on the scheme since it was launched last month and is encouraging them to continue to do that.

A spokesman said: "Our bid has to be submitted by Friday, January 6, and we will discover in April if it has made it through the first wave of selections. "We want people to carry on sending in their views right through that period. We want to be able to show the Lottery what Worcester residents think. So far they are very much behind the bid." If the bid is successful, then it is hoped the developments would be in place by 2009.