People in Sheffield are being encouraged to help athletics golden girl Jessica Ennis win a top European award.

Jess, who trains at the English Institute of Sport - Sheffield (EIS Sheffield), has been shortlisted for the European Athlete of the Month of May.

The 23-year-old heptathlete leads the world rankings after a 6,587 points victory in Desenzano del Garda.

Jess is up against 15 other competitors in the women's category including Tasha Danvers, Europe's leading 400m hurdler with a 55.19 victory in New York, and Germany's Christina Obergföll, the leading European in 2009 with a 68.40m throw in Halle.

Athletes are picked by a panel of experts and the winner voted for by the public, media and a group of expert statisticians.

Paul Hudson, general manager of EIS Sheffield, said: "May is traditionally the real start of the outdoor track and field season and Jess has got off to a flying start.

"Following her injury last year, she has been training hard at EIS Sheffield and has produced some outstanding performances during the month, which warrant the public vote. Jess is a local girl and we want lots of people in the city to get behind her and help to secure this deserved award."

The European Athlete of the Month initiative was launched in January 2007 and is designed to recognise outstanding performers at all levels of the sport in Europe.

European Athletics will name a male and female winner each month and feature the athlete on the European Athletics website.

You can vote online at http://www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7366&Itemid=2

. Voting will close on Thursday 11 June at 12 noon.