A SAFETY campaign has put a Teesside council in the running for a national award.

Hartlepool Borough Council's trading standards team has been shortlisted for the Trading Standard Institute's Brindley Medal for Excellence and Innovation.

Hartlepool was chosen for its 2005 campaign to help reduce the risk of accidents in the sea by encouraging traders not to sell inflatables to unaccompanied children.

The trading standards team worked in partnership with the town's lifeguards and the RNLI to spread the message.

Michael Welsh, the council's principal trading standards officer, said: "It's a great honour to be shortlisted for this top accolade."