WORKERS who feel good about where they work have won their town an award and praise from its mayor.

Shop, hotel and restaurant workers have signed up for courses that turn them into ambassadors for Middlesbrough.

The courses tell them what is happening in the town and area to help visitors and keeps them informed about regeneration plans for the town.

The courses are being run as part of a Middlesbrough Pride campaign, which aims to make locals proud to represent where they live and work and change perceptions of the town.

The campaign has won a British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) marketing award.

The Purple Apple Awards recognise and reward excellence in retail marketing. Middlesbrough was one of only two centres in the UK to win the accolade.

The other was Windsor, in Berkshire.

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon said: "The team behind Middlesbrough Pride are leading the way in making sure that everybody knows what is happening in the town.

"This will undoubtedly help us with our massive regeneration plans over the coming months."

Karen Shields, of the Middlesbrough Town Centre Company, which promotes the town, said: "Everybody involved with Middlesbrough Pride, from the organisations that help to deliver the courses to the hundreds of frontline staff and town centre employers who have taken part so far, deserve to share in this award.

"Without them, it would not have been possible, and it is thanks to their enthusiasm and determination to put Middlesbrough on the map for the right reasons that we received such a fantastic accolade."