TWO residents have received an award for their efforts to improve their local environment.

David Stokes and Margaret Newman yesterday received the award for Individual Environmental Improvement by the Tidy Britain Group as part of the Queen Mother's Birthday Awards. They were presented with their awards from the Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Terry Bean, at a ceremony in Stockton Town Hall.

Mr Stokes, 63, has polio and unbeknown to him, his sister Audrey, nominated him for the award after she became aware he collected any litter he came across as he went for his regular walk along a cycle track, near his home in Elmtree, Stockton.

He said: "I started off by helping youngsters from the local secondary school to collect aluminium cans for the school. It just snowballed from there and I continued to collect litter every time I was out walking."

Mrs Newham, 68, lives in Billingham, and as well as keeping her locality spotless, she has planted flowers outside of her own land boundary.

She said: "I like to keep the street clean and spend some time outside with my sweeping brush."

Councillor Geoff Field, Stockton Borough Council's cabinet member for the environment, said: "These residents, like most in the borough, have the same attitude of citizenship that helps to keep Stockton a pleasant environment in which to live, play and run businesses."