This street in Leeds has been named as one of friendliest in Britain

A crescent at Kirkstall, which has come together in the coronavirus crisis, has been nominated and listed among the ten finalists in the 'In Good Company' campaign to find Britain's Friendliest Street.

Finalists span from Barnsley to Bristol, and now Eden Crescent at LS4 is hoping to get enough votes from the public to top the poll before voting closes at the end of the month.

A resident nominated the street after a Whatsapp group for the house-holds, dubbed 'Eden Cresidents', topped more than a hundred members, it held an Easter bear hunt featuring 105 teddies, children made get well cards for a neighbour who fell and had to stay in hospital and there have been bird-watching sessions, toy and book swaps and planting of the grass verges.

In other cases a Neighbourhood Watch scheme has been set up and one resident, Oly Newton, ran more than 60 miles in loops around the crescent in 24 hours, including throughout the night, to raise funds for local food banks and he was cheered on by the street every step of the way.

Grace Hills started the group a few years ago when she moved to the street but it had just a handful of members until coronavirus lockdown kicked in.

She said: "As lockdown happened people said we should look out for each other. Everybody added everybody else and within 24 hours there were 100 people and it has grown from there. It has been super lovely and we all come out to clap on a Thursday.

"Annie didn't tell us she had nominated us so it was a shock to find out we were in the top ten but it shouldn't have been a surprise really because people are posting all the time and it is such an amazing group and neighbourhood."

In scenes reminiscient of the original VE Day there were pockets of street parties up and down the crescent earlier this month for the 75th anniversary and young and old have come together on the street. When one elderly resident had a fall and was taken to hospital, the children made get well cards and neighbours that hadn't spoken much before are now getting to know each other properly whether it is over a spot of gardening or a message on the Whatsapp group if they are feeling down.

All the names and numbers of people have been put in to a spreadsheet and a Neighbourhood Watch scheme has been set up and properly adopted.

Ms Hills added: "I know names and numbers of people but have never met them and we are all picking stuff up off each other's door steps. It feels super-friendly, it is lovely to live on this street.

"I see the interactions of people and in one, we have a professional bird-watcher who has been giving us all tips but she lost her dad and had to send out death cards but did not have enough stamps. She posted in the group asking if anyone knew where she could get more as she needed 19. Within five minutes she had the 19 stamps and people had left them on her door step and I was so touched by that."

Eden Crescent falls within the constituency of MP Rachel Reeves who added: "It is brilliant news that Eden Crescent has reached the top 10 nominees for Britain's friendliest street. I am delighted to see that Leeds West residents are receiving recognition for their fantastic work. I know that people across my constituency have used this time to get to know and support their neighbours, and I am proud of the response of our community at this time."

To vote for Eden Crescent visit www.ingoodcompany.vote