THERE are just over 50 votes between two villages battling it out to be twinned with a fictitious toy town.

Old Basing and Overton are neck-and-neck in the Sylvanian Families competition, which will see one of the villages twinned with Sylvania - the rural paradise depicted in the collectable toy family range.

As previously reported in The Gazette, the contest is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the brand.

A total of 15 villages were shortlisted for the competition, but Overton quickly took the lead early on, gaining 50 per cent of the votes within a week.

However, votes for Old Basing have steadily gained momentum, and the village is now just 53 votes behind its rival, with 31 per cent of the vote compared to 38 per cent for Overton.

Voting closes at midnight tomorrow after which the winner will be revealed.

The winning village’s local primary school will receive 30 Sylvanian Families’ products, a year’s free membership to the Sylvanian Families Premium Fan Club for its pupils, as well as £500 worth of toys to sell at its village fete to raise money for the school.

The parish council will also be presented with a sign reading ‘Twinned with Sylvania’ at a twinning ceremony, complete with a visit from the Sylvanian Families characters.

To vote for a shortlisted village visit http://woobox.com/cixsw4/fjkyl5?fb_ref=feed.