CREWE and Nantwich gymnast Beth Tweddle is one of 10 sporting greats to make the shortlist for the 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

And The Chronicle is urging read-ers to vote for the Bunbury-based 21-year-old, who learned her trade with Crewe and Nantwich Gymnastics Club as a youngster, at the glittering awards ceremony at the NEC in Birmingham on Sunday night.

The show is being broadcast live on BBC One at 7pm, with voting on the night, when Beth will find out if she will be crowned the winner.

She reached the final 10 after becoming the first British gymnast ever to win gold at the World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, in October. She is currently 40-1 to walk off with the award on the night.

She said: 'I am so glad to be considered for the sports personality award. I always wanted to do well in gymnastics and win medals but I never thought I would be in the running for an award like this.

'There are so many great sports people who have been linked to it this year, Zara Phillips and Nicole Cook to name but two.'

And Beth has the full support of the people of Crewe and Nantwich. Borough council leader Brian Silvester said: 'Beth is an inspiration to all Crewe and Nantwich's young gymnasts and athletes.

'She has shown great perseverance by overcoming a succession of crippling injuries. Let's show how proud we are of her in the borough by voting her Sports Personality of the Year.

'It would be a great tribute to her and to the borough from which she emanates.'

Gymnastics, Equestrianism and cycling are on the list due to British failure in mainstream sports.

Beth sees this as an opportunity for her to promote gymnastics: 'It is good for the sport that competitors are recognised in the general sporting world. Simply being mentioned in connection with the award is a big deal for gymnastics.' nBeth collected a top honour at the BBC North West Sports Awards on Monday night.

She lifted the North West Sports Personality trophy from her two short-listed rivals, Sale Sharks rugby union star Charlie Hodgson and St Helens' treble-winning Great Britain rugby league full-back Paul Wellens.

Beth received her honour at a glittering night of stars at Manchester's Hilton Hotel from Steven Broom-head, chief executive of the North West Development Agency.

At the same ceremony, Crewe and Nantwich Athletics Club were pipped to the award for North West Community Club of the Year by Seneley and Garswood Juniors FC of Wigan, after reaching the final four.

The awards will be shown tonight Wednesday on BBC1 (7pm).