ENVIRONMENTAL champions in Hartlepool have been rewarded at an awards ceremony.

Councillor Carl Richardson, chairman of Hartlepool Borough Council, and Mayor Stuart Drummond presented the annual Pride in Your Neighbourhood Awards on Thursday.

The awards scheme is part of the council's Pride in Hartlepool campaign, which aims to recognise the efforts of people to make the town a cleaner and more attractive place to live and work.

There were 39 nominations across ten awards categories.

Coun Richardson said: "I'd like to pay tribute to all the award winners and other nominees.

"So many people do such a great deal of work to improve the town in their own time and the council really appreciates their commitment."

Mr Drummond said: "I would like to congratulate everyone who was either nominated or received an award.

"It is important that as a town we all pull together to build on the many improvements that have done so much to transform Hartlepool's image in recent years."

The full list of winners was:

* Environmentally Active Individual: John Hays.

* Environmentally Active Residents Group: Burbank Residents Community Garden Sub-Group.

* Environmentally Active Group of Young People: The Beck Buddies.

* Environmentally Active Business/Voluntary Organisation: Owton Fens Community Association - Volunteer Initiative Project and Hartlepool Environmental Action Project.

* Environmentally Active School: Lynnfield Primary School.

* Best Wildlife Project: Friends of Spion Kop Cemetery.

* Best School Grounds: St John Vianney Primary School.

* Most Improved Plot: Throston Primary School.

* Adopt-a-Beach: St Bega's Primary School.

* Special Achievement: Manor West Youth Project.