A BMX track and the maintenance of a rose garden could be on the cards for the Matson and Robinswood Tenants and Residents' Association if it wins

Community Makeover competition.

The association has launched a bid to win £6,000 as part of the contest, which is being run in partnership with Barclays.

And the competition heats up this week as from tomorrow groups which have entered can collect tokens in a bid to win the cash.

Association leader Julian Hiles said: "We've got three projects on the go at the moment.

"We recently won money from Gloucester in Bloom to put up hanging baskets in and around the estates here.

"People reacted really well to the project and it all looks very attractive, so we'd like to be able to continue with it.

"We also need funding to maintain the Matson rose garden in Rectory Road, which has been there since I was a boy.

He said the garden was regularly used by residents of all ages, especially the older residents.

"It does need maintaining and this is not highlighted in the street care contract we have," he said.

Mr Hiles said the two projects are essential to bring colour and cheer into the area.

He highlighted the issues the area has faced in past years.

"We have traditionally had lots of problems in the area," he said.

"In the past, there hasn't been a strong voice to speak up for Matson and Robinswood, but now there is and we work very hard."

Mr Hiles said they were also considering a revamp of a bike track in the area if they won the money.

"Up on Robinswood Hill there's an old BMX track with jumps, but it has fallen out of use and is overgrown," he said.

"If there's no law against using it, I'd like to see it cut back and back in use again as something for the young people to do."

The Community Makeover scheme, run by The Citizen and our sister newspaper, the Gloucestershire Echo, is in conjunction with Barclays.

In total there is a £12,000 prize fund, £6,000 for each paper.

The two groups to collect the highest number of tokens and the most text votes from tomorrow until October 14 will each win the prize money.