THE country’s best cricket club and a woman who gave away her inheritance have been honoured for their contributions to the region.

The Northumbrian Association’s annual Hotspur Awards were given to Durham County Cricket Club and Jane Ritchie during a ceremony at Washington Old Hall last night. The club is one of the North-East’s great success stories, having won the county championship two years in a succession, less than 20 years since it became a firstclass county.

Ms Ritchie spent her multimillion pound inheritance on building The Work Place, a vocational learning centre in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

The awards – silver spurs – were presented by Margaret Fay, chairwoman of development agency One North East.

The association, which promotes Northumbrian culture, gives the awards to people and groups who “through bold endeavour”

have benefited or raised the profile of the North-East.

Previous winners include Frank Atkinson, who contributed greatly to Beamish Museum, athlete Brendan Foster and Billy Elliot creator Lee Hall.

John Danby, from the Northumbrian Association, said: “Jane is just amazing.

This woman gave her inheritance to help young people into work. The Work Place is an amazing place.

“Durham County Cricket Club has done such a lot for the region. It’s a county that’s come from nowhere and is extremely well run.”

The association’s writers’ awards went to Liam Office, of North Tyneside; Laurie Atkinson, of Rowlands Gill, near Gateshead; and Rachael Barnwell, of Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street.