A £100,000 funding bid to help install a hydroelectric turbine at Dudbridge Locks on the Stroudwater Canal has been shortlisted for success.

The joint request by the Cotswold Canals Trust and Stroud Valleys Canal Company is currently in second place out of more than 900 schemes that applied for cash via the British Gas energyshare initiative.

Both charities aim to work in partnership to implement the project, which would generate around £21,000 each year to help maintain and operate the canal stretch by supplying green energy back into the national grid.

Success in the bidding is based entirely on the amount of people who log onto the energyshare website to register their support, with the Dudbridge Locks proposal attracting 758 followers nationally, compared to 797 for the leading project in Hexham.

The top 100 schemes will now be whittled to 10 for a public vote to decide the winning five by early November.

"We have progressed from sixth, to fifth and now to second place in the last couple of weeks so we are edging forward," said Ken Burgin, chief executive of the Cotswold Canals Trust and a trustee of Stroud Valleys Canal Company.

"The project will not only generate green energy but will also provide an economy stream to maintain the canal once it is restored, so it will have a double benefit."

A budget of £310,000 has been set aside for the project, which aims to make use of surplus water flowing in from Slad Brook and Painswick Stream as it cascades over the two locks.

Brimscombe-based firm Renewables First has suggested a suitable hydro turbine, the bulk of which will be underground with plans is to install public display panels on site to show how much energy is being generated.

Students from nearby Marling School, which specialises in engineering, will be invited on site to witness stages of the installation process and discussions have been held with the Environment Agency and Stroud District Council to discuss the scheme prior to securing approval.

Ken added: "Thank you to all who have gone online to support the project so far.

"It is really important that if people want to help keep the canal in a good condition and support green energy that they log on, register and vote for the scheme."

To vote for the project, visit www.energyshare.com/dudbridge-locks-hydro and click 'support this group'.