THE winners of The Northern Echo's Making a Difference environmental competition celebrated their achievement with a VIP guest yesterday.

Furness, Cameron and Belk (FCB) Residents' Association, in the Hartlepool streets of the same name, hosted a visit by Professor David Bellamy for the prize-giving.

Also represented were the runners-up, North Bitchburn Community Association, near Crook, County Durham, and West Rainton Green Group, near Durham City.

Sponsored by regional development agency One NorthEast since it started seven years ago, Making a Difference honours volunteer-led projects which improve communities.

FCB Residents' Association won because of work including liaising with landlords to improve rented properties, working with other agencies to drive drug dealers out of the area, campaigning successfully for better security, creating a community garden and erecting hanging baskets.

West Rainton Green Group's projects include green markets, litter-picking, tidying up paths and operating an environmental programme for local children.

North Bitchburn Community Association runs activities including creating a sports pitch, bulb planting, growing vegetables for elderly residents and running projects for young people.

Professor Bellamy, who lives in County Durham, said: "Go to any area in the North-East and you will find community spirit. The North-East reigns supreme as a place to live."

He praised The Northern Echo for the way it reports on community life in the region.

The winners' prize, £500 from The Northern Echo and One NorthEast plus a wooden bowl carved by North Pennines craftsman Philip Bastow, was received by FCB Residents' Association secretary Julie Hetherington and media manager Ian Crick.

She said: "All the shortlisted schemes deserve something. We are putting heart and soul into making our areas better."

Runners-up gift vouchers were received by North Bitchburn treasurer Chris Nevins and West Rainton chair Kathleen Tweddle and member Julie Stobbs.