THOUSANDS of pounds-worth of prizes were handed out to schools, companies and young achievers in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors on Friday.

The North East Process Industry Cluster (Nepic), which represents more than 350 companies in the region, awarded prizes for success in environment, safety and community involvement.

In front of more than 400 people at its annual dinner, at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield, County Durham, Nepic also presented awards to young achievers.

Industrial gases company BOC sponsored prizes for environmental achievement, each of £2,000, to Freeborough College, in Redcar, east Cleveland, and pharmaceuticals company Merck, Sharp and Dohme, in Cramlington, Northumberland.

The Merck, Sharp and Dohme staff will donate their prize to East Hartford Primary School.

Uniqema, a Wilton, Teesside chemicals company, has received Nepic's Innovation in Safety award for its safety communications with employees and contractors.

The system has contributed to a record of more than three million incident-free working hours at the Uniquema plant.

Uniquema will donate the £2000 prize, sponsored by safety management consultancy Link International, to Dormanstown School.

Nepic Young Achievers prizes of £1,000 were awarded to: Alan Wasson, of Huntsman Petrochemicals, Wilton; Shahid-Fraz Rashid, of Avecia Biotechnology, Billingham, Teesside, Louise Sixsmith, of Aesica Pharmaceuticals, Cramlington; Michael Deighton, of DuPont Teijin Films, Wilton; and Clare Williams, of Aker Kvaerner Engineering services, Stockton, Teesside.