A SMALL North-East street played host to leading environmentalist Dr David Bellamy as he paid tribute to the winners of The Northern Echo's community competition, Making A Difference.

Dr Bellamy was in Hartlepool to present first prize to Brougham Area Residents' Association (Bara), for the way it has transformed Perth Street.

He presented runners-up prizes to St John's Chapel Primary School, Weardale, for working with villagers to create a wildlife garden, and Page Bank Wildlife Group, from the hamlet, near Spennymoor, also County Durham, for creating wildlife areas on the site of the demolished pit village.

Dr Bellamy paid tribute to The Northern Echo and competition sponsor, regional development agency One NorthEast, which announced that it would sponsor the competition for the fifth successive year, next year.

In the ceremony in Perth Street, the environmentalist, who lives in County Durham, said: "All over the world, people are doing what has happened in this community. What The Northern Echo and the sponsor are saying is 'let's give these people a pat on the back'. The winners are all involved in something special."

Many of the Perth Street residents own their homes but Bara persuaded landlords who own rented houses to remove window shutters to improve the street's appearance.

Residents have planted flowerbeds, involved local children, revived community spirit, and brought about a significant reduction in vandalism.

Bara chairwoman Muriel Boreland said: "This is the tip of the iceberg of what we do. We are saying to the private landlords, 'look after us and we will look after your properties'."

Organisation secretary Jean Lilley said: "There is a real community spirit here and to have David Bellamy in our street is brilliant."

Mark Olliphant, chairman of governors at St John's Chapel school, said: "To be recognised is good, but to be honoured in this way is superb."

Frances Mullarkey, of Page Bank Wildlife Group, said: "We have lived there for 20 years and suddenly it has all lifted off. It is about preserving what is there."

The winner received a cheque for £500 and a wooden bowl carved by North Pennines craftsman Philip Bastow. The two runners-up received gift vouchers.