THE people of a market town came together yesterday to celebrate victory in The Northern Echo's environmental competition.

North-East botanist Dr David Bellamy made a presentation to Richmond Pride, the first North Yorkshire winner of Making a Difference in the competition's five-year history.

Making a Difference recognises community groups which improve the areas where they live and Richmond Pride, which has more than 100 volunteers, tackle problems such as litter, dog waste and grafitti.

Runner-up prizes went to Harrowgate Hill Junior School, in Thompson Street West, Darlington, and Laurel Avenue Nursery School, on the Sherburn Road estate, in Durham.

Harrowgate Hill school has carried out recycling projects, wildlife gardening, and breeding endangered harvest mice for reintroduction into the wild.

Staff and pupils at Laurel Avenue nursery are creating a wildlife garden in its grounds.

Praising all the schemes, and The Northern Echo, for their commitment to improving communities, Dr Bellamy told the gathering: "Communities are moving. The green renaissance is happening."

Receiving the award, town mayor and Richmond Pride member Councillor Stuart Parsons said: "This is a community thing. The reason we are here is because we care about what is happening in the town and other areas."

Teacher Graham Temby, who oversees environmental projects at Harrowgate Hill Junior School, said: "I am really delighted to receive this award on behalf of the school. It represents a big thank you to the people who have worked so hard over the past three or four years."

Richmond Pride received £500 and a platter created by cabinet maker Philip Bastow, of Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales, from a piece of wood found near Richmond. There were gift vouchers for the runners-up.