A PARK created on a former cokeworks and colliery has again won a coveted Green Flag award.

Elba Park was opened in 2010 on the former Lambton Cokeworks and Colliery between Chester-le-Street and Sunderland after years of decontamination work.

The national award, from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards the country’s best parks and green spaces .

A Green Flag is a sign that the space has the highest standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

Andrea Baxter, senior community ranger at Elba Park, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for the second year running.

"We have worked very hard over the past four years to make sure that Elba is a space that people want to visit and each year it goes from strength to strength.”

Elba Park is owned by The Land Trust and managed by local environmental charity Groundwork North East and Cumbria.

Land Trust estates manager Ian Kendall said: “We are delighted that Elba Park has achieved Green Flag status again as this shows on-going commitment to the park in the six standards set out by Keep Britain Tidy.”

Features at Elba Park include five pieces of public artwork that focus on the industrial heritage of the area, almost 80,000 native trees, an extensive network of paths, a newly-installed trim trail as well as woodland, meadow and wetland habitats.

Groundwork North East and Cumbria holds education and activity sessions at Elba Park throughout the year and engages with thousands of people from the surrounding area.

The next event at Elba Park is a summer fun day on Saturday, August 23, from 11am to 3pm.

For further details contact Ms Baxter on 07587778452 or e-mail andrea.baxter@groundwork.org.uk