It might not have passed Go yet but a final push could see Norwich grace one of the most famous board games in the world.The city only needs about 1,000 more votes to stake its position on a new Here and Now UK edition of family favourite Monopoly and yesterday council leaders added their voices to the campaign to have it emblazoned on the board.

It might not have passed Go yet but a final push could see Norwich grace one of the most famous board games in the world.

The city only needs about 1,000 more votes to stake its position on a new Here and Now UK edition of family favourite Monopoly and yesterday council leaders added their voices to the campaign to have it emblazoned on the board.

Parker Games started the online race to include Britain's 22 most popular villages, towns and cities in the game instead of the original London landmarks.

At one point Norwich reached the Whitechapel spot but is now two places off the leaderboard.

It needs less than 1,000 votes to get back on and just 500 more than that to rise to the more upmarket position previously occupied by Angel Islington.

But with millions of people across the country fighting for their favourite location the city's supporters need to carry on voting to keep it in the game. One person can register one vote a day from the same computer.

Stephen Morphew, leader of the council, urged the people of Norwich to vote.

He said: “This is a bit of fun which could put Norwich on the map - and every time people play the game they will be reminded of what a great place we are.”

Lord Mayor Felicity Hartley said that while the city might not get to the top of the board, currently occupied by St Albans with more than 30,000 votes compared to Norwich's nearly 8,000, it could see itself occupying the middle positions.

The city council's Conservative group leader and shadow tourism spokesman Antony Little said: “To get on the board would be a vote of confidence in our City and the people who make it what it is.”

The closing date for voting is May 25.

Log on to www.monopoly.co.uk and follow the links to the leaderboard and those places just below it.