AN initiative aimed at making people in Middlesbrough proud of where they live and work is to receive national recognition.

The Middlesbrough Pride campaign works to make staff in hotels, shops and restaurants aware of the events that are happening both in the town and across the Tees Valley.

Middlesbrough Town Centre Company (MTCC) has been working with Tees Valley Tourism Bureau and Middlesbrough Council to put together a series of free training courses for local employers.

So far, 130 people have taken part in the course during the first nine months with a waiting list of 150.

Now, thanks to the success of Middlesbrough Pride, MTCC has been asked to submit it for a British Council of Shopping Centre (BCSC) Purple Apple Marketing Award.

The awards recognise and reward excellence in marketing in the retail property industry and work to advance standards in the sector.

Karen Shields, marketing and information manager of MTCC, said: "Anyone who comes into contact with tourists and visitors is really our frontline in the effort to bring visitors and income into Middlesbrough.

"It is testament to those who have attended the course so far that we are now able to aim for national recognition to further enhance Middlesbrough's reputation."

Ray Mallon, Mayor of Middlesbrough, said: "Middlesbrough's greatest asset is the people that live and work here. This is highlighted by the Middlesbrough Pride initiative which has been so positively received"