FOUR other North-East organisations will receive Big Ticks in the North-East Awards for Excellence today.

Durham-based Northumbrian Water won double honours - the Shields Environmental Award, for its work at Wear Valley Treatment Works; and the Bupa Healthy Community Award for its Just An Hour project.

The £34m Wear Valley treatment works, constructed at Wearhead, in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, was built to resemble a farmstead typical of Upper Weardale. It has been nationally recognised as environmental excellence in design, along with demonstrating construction best practice.

Just An Hour, launched three years ago, is an employee volunteering programme. All staff are offered at least 12 working hours per year off work, to support community initiatives.

More than a quarter of the workforce take part each year, dedicating more than 7,500 hours to community projects such as the Weardale Railway and Butterwick Hospice, in Stockton.

John Cuthbert, managing director of Northumbrian Water, said: "We are very serious about our corporate social responsibility and are delighted that these two projects have been recognised."

Susan Tron, manager of Stepney Bank Stables, won the Marks & Spencer Sieff Award.

The stables, a registered charity based in Byker, Newcastle, offers inner city children the chance to ride horses. Its Funky Fools and Horses club for youngsters was the subject of a popular Children's BBC series.

The award recognises her work in attracting business support for the charity.

This includes fundraising by the Rotary Club, training and advice from law firm Eversheds, funding from Northern Rock and transport from Stagecoach.

The Gateshead Metrocentre's Safer Shopping Partnership won the Power in Partnership award for reducing crime.

The partnership, which includes Northumbria Police and St James Security, has helped cut vehicle crime at Europe's biggest mall by 93 per cent in the past four years.

Commercial crime such as shoplifting has almost halved and the reduction in offences has allowed police more time to devote to the wider community.

Terry Atkinson, the centre's services manager for security said: "These awards aren't given away lightly as standards are very high so it is hugely rewarding to have our work recognised in this way."

North Benwell Neighbourhood Management Initiative, based in Newcastle's deprived West End, won the BUPA Healthy Communities award for its work in regenerating the area, by tackling the social problems facing residents in 1,800 homes.

Since it started, the number of empty properties in Benwell has dropped 57pc.

Crime has dropped 32pc in the 12 months and house prices have risen from an average of £16,500 in 2002 to over £100,000 last year.