A CONTROVERSIAL piece of public art in the North-East has earned its creators an accolade from a specialist trade guild.

The team responsible for Newcastle's Blue Carpet received honours from the Worshipful Company of Paviors in a ceremony in London last night.

Separate awards were presented, for clients, designers and contractors, after the project won the Local Government News Street Design Award.

The £1.6m carpet, thousands of blue tiles adorning the pavement outside the Laing Art Gallery, was officially unveiled nearly two years late and almost £600,000 over its original estimated budget, in January.

Designer Thomas Heatherwick defended his work against widespread criticism, including claims that the tiles were more a drab grey than blue.

But it won the approval of judges in the awards, as, "an outstanding example of street and pavement design".

Mr Heatherwick was joined by a delegation from Newcastle City Council, including councillors, officials and city engineers, plus the head of arts and culture, Paul Rubinstein, at last night's Mansion House ceremony.