SCHOOLS cleaning and catering staff have been praised at an awards ceremony.

Stockton Borough Council employees were rewarded for their hard work at the Catering and Building Cleaning Excellence Awards.

Council workers receiving praise for their efforts included Yarm Primary School, which received the 2005 Kitchen of the Year Award.

There were also a number of other awards presented at the ceremony including: Building Cleaning Team of the Year Award, won by Christ the King RC Primary School; Most Improved Kitchen Award, won by St Mary's Primary School; the Golden Loo Brush Award, won by Kath Palin; and the Golden Rolling Pin Award, won By Julia Willis.

The event was attended by more than 300 people at the Tall Trees Hotel, Yarm.