ENVIRONMENTAL champions were honoured at the Hartlepool's annual Pride in Your Neighbourhood Awards last night.

Schools, residents' associations, youth groups and a girls' brigade group were all among the award winners.

The awards are part of Hartlepool Borough Council's Pride in Hartlepool Campaign, which aims to encourage people to get involved in environmental projects.

The winners were presented with their awards by Councillor Carl Richardson, the chairman of the council, at a ceremony in the town's civic centre.

He said: "A lot of hard work and dedication has gone into all of the schemes and the people involved deserve this recognition."

The winners were:

Environmentally aware individual - PC Keith Morrison; Environmentally aware residents' group - Rossmere and Seaton Grange Residents' Association; Environmentally aware youth group - 1st Hartlepool Girls' Brigade; Environmentally aware business - TMD Friction; Environmentally aware school group - Lynnfield Primary School gardening club; Environmentally aware school - Fens Primary School; Schools recycling award - The Schools and Charities Hartlepool initiative; Best kept school grounds - St Bega's RC Primary School; Most improved plot - Throston Primary School; Adopt-a-Beach award - St Bega's RC Primary School; Community spirit award - Brougham Area Residents' Association; Special achievement award - Elwick Villagers' Association; Best wildlife project - West Park Primary School.