A CONSERVATION group's work in Teesdale has been recognised with a national award.

Teesdale Conservation Volunteers (TCV), based in Startforth, near Barnard Castle, run Rotters, a group which picks up garden waste around the dale and transforms it into compost.

It won the Composting Association's Best Community Initiative prize at an awards ceremony in Brighton earlier this month.

Rotters beat off competition from 11 other finalists for the prize, which is their second accolade of the year following a Durham County Council Environmental Award in the summer.

They were praised by the Composting Association for their training, education and support network.

Martin Bacon, of TCV, said: "It's really good to get recognition for our work and it's also recognition for Teesdale too, which is great."

TCV chairman Richard Betton said Teesdale is top of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs league for domestic carbon emissions control.

He added: "The work of TCV encouraging ever increasing recycling particularly of green waste goes some way to mitigate this.

"It reflects all the hard work put in by TCV staff and volunteers and dedication of all Rotters members to become greener."

For more information about Rotters and TCV call 01833-690022.