A COMMUNITY clear-up campaign has won a prestigious national ‘green’ award for the second year in a row.

Operation Spruce Up has earned Durham County Council the title of ‘campaign of the year’ at environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy’s Network Awards 2018.

The council was a shortlisted finalist in two other categories, ‘community engagement’, for its civic pride work, and ‘litter hero’, for Bob Sorley, a volunteer with walking and cycling charity Sustrans for 15 years.

Spruce Up was launched in November 2016 to bring teams from across the council’s different service areas together in one town or village centre, to give it a thorough clean.

The programme has visited a new location each month with the teams assisted by partners including town and parish councils, the council’s area action partnerships, residents groups and local schools and businesses.

Councillor Simon Henig, leader of the council, said: “We are immensely proud of the work we have done with partners in our towns and villages.”