THE winner of this year's environmental competition run by The Northern Echo has been announced - and it means a hat-trick of successes for the same district.

This year's accolade has gone to a dedicated team of volunteers from Willington, County Durham, who have transformed neglected allotments and played an important part in restoring community spirit to their area.

Last year, the winner was a recycling scheme at the Butterwick Hospice, in Bishop Auckland, and the year before the trophy went to community volunteers working to preserve historic coke ovens at Tow Law, meaning three successive triumphs for the Wear Valley district.

The three-strong judging panel - Don Bowman, the head of project technical services for competition sponsors One NorthEast, Richard Wood, chief executive of Dur-ham Wildlife Trust, and competition administrator John Dean - visited the three shortlisted schemes.

Based in Willington, Rose-dale and Victoria Allotment Association has transformed the allotments since 1999 when the seven acres had become badly vandalised. Many of the plots were empty.

Since then, 17 allotments have been rescued from dereliction and boggy land is being turned into a nature area.

There are plans for a sensory garden for elderly and disabled people, and a tree nursery using seeds collected by local schoolchildren.

The district council has supported the project as has the Groundwork group and local businesses.

The volunteers' efforts have created a new community spirit in the area - local people visit to enjoy the transformation and chat to the allotment holders.

Association secretary Paul Archer said: "This is not just about the association, this is about people who are not members as well. It is a community project."

Mr Wood said: "I was extremely impressed with the winning project. The enthusiasm and dedication of all concerned, together with the involvement of the wider community, make it a worthy winner."

Mr Dean said: "Yet again we had a very strong shortlist. We have a worthy winner, which did well to beat off fierce competition from the other schemes."

This is the third year Making A Difference has been held, and this year's winner receives £500 and the two runners-up receive consolation prizes.

North-East environmentalist David Bellamy will present the prizes on October 31. Final details have yet to be confirmed.