An MP wants a park to be named a World Heritage Site alongside wonders like the Grand Canyon.

Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, is supporting Lea Valley Heritage Alliance’s bid to get the Lea Valley added to the list of World Heritage Sites.

If it is successful, it will be on the same list as the Galapagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

Mr Duncan Smith said: “Having visited sites that form part of Lea Valley’s diverse industrial heritage, I am determined to support the Heritage Association’s aspiration in wanting to attain global recognition.

“To see Lea Valley recognised around the world as such a vital part of the UK’S industrial revolution that so changed the way we live, would be a significant achievement. The purpose is that future generations of children will learn of the historical importance of our area and as they do their lives will be enriched.”

The Lea Valley Heritage Alliance, an organisation based in Chingford, says Lea Valley contains several sites of special scientific interest and an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The area is also home to more than 100 world-first industrial achievements, the highest concentration in a single location anywhere in the world; including the first British aeroplane, the first electric light bulbs used in houses, the first beer that could be transported and the first sale of petrol.

The Alliance believes the Lea Valley and its innovations have made an outstanding universal contribution to humanity, making it worthy of joining the 1,073 locations across 167 United Nations’ member states on the UNESCO list.

Nominations for inclusion on the list are made by the UK Government, so Alliance members met with Mr Duncan Smith and the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Matt Hancock at Westminster to make their case last week.

The assessment process to gain World Heritage status is vigorous with numerous applications from sites across the UK.

But the Alliance believe the unique history of the Lea Valley and the contribution it has made to the advancement of mankind should stand it in good stead.

Lindsay Collier, chairman of the Lea Valley Heritage Alliance, said: “Getting Lea Valley onto the UNESCO World Heritage List would be an amazing achievement that recognises the area’s unique and important industrial heritage.

“Many people have heard of Silicon Valley but may not know Lea Valley is of equivalent importance, in terms of the number of inventions that began here and went on to change the world.”