EALING’S Pitshanger Lane has made the final of a national competition and could scoop a share of the £50,000 cash prize.

It will now battle it out with two other finalists in the Great British High Street Competition 2015 in its category and will also be up against the other 20 finalists across all categories to be crowned the overall ‘Winner of Winners’.

The competition for the London category is Raynes Park in southwest London and Roman Road in the East End.

Winning high streets will also receive support and mentoring from industry experts which could range from one-to-one coaching to advice on digital marketing.

The street was entered for the award by John Martin, 47, owner of John Martin Estates and chairman of Pitshanger Village Traders Association (PVTA).

He said: “No other area in London has the community feel and integration that Pitshanger does. It is all about the support of the community.

“We have just bought a defibrillator for the lane. Everyone cares so much about the lane and the people surrounding it.”

Mr Martin personally funded June’s Party in the Park in Pitshanger Park for its first three years before the Pitshanger Community Association took over.

The street is also home to the annual Light up the Lane in early November, and the events combined attract more than 7,000 people each year.

Supportive residents were on hand to help when Marion Doheny's business, Pitshanger Playcentre, was broken into three times in 2009.

Mrs Doheny, 50, said: “After the third break in I was given a burglar alarm by the community, that’s how we work.

“It is like a village where people are always on your side and there for help.

“We wouldn’t have survived without the lane. We are based in Pitshanger Park and as soon as we have an event up on social media we get great support immediately.”

Fellow resident Renaldo Migeul is originally from Brazil but has lived on the lane for more than 20 years and is not planning to move anytime soon.

Mr Miguel, 50, said: “We have the feeling of the old days, that togetherness. It is a village.

“To find that in London I think makes us completely unique.”

His coffee morning buddy, Harry Philp, 55, lives near Montpelier Avenue and said Pitshanger Lane had it all.

He said: “My daughter goes to St Augustine’s Priory just up the road, but there are brilliant schools in the area too.

“It is great for families, but we also have young people and the elderly. You walk down the lane and see people from all walks of life.”

Pitshanger Lane is also home to more than 50 independent traders. Lisa Barbaric, 55, owns Lisa’s Restaurant and said she was proud of the street’s variety of shops and cafes.

She said: “The only thing we don’t have is a candle stick maker.

“I have owned my restaurant for 24 years and it has evolved with the lane.

“The residents are part of everything the traders do. We all know one another personally.”

Another independent trader, Martin Kirrane, 34, co-owner of Hook and Cleaver butchers, said it was a unique area of London.

“It is the close knit feel of a village, like you should be in the countryside,” he said.

“It’s great for us as we get to know the customers and build on that.”

Scores from a judge and the public vote will be combined 50-50 to decide who scoops the accolade.

The public can vote for their favourite high street at http://thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/high-street-of-the-year-award