ECO-friendly businesses, volunteers and green projects are being urged to put themselves forward for awards recognising the people who are looking after their local environment.

This World Environment Day nominations open for the County Durham Environment Awards 2018.

Oliver Sherratt, chairman of the County Durham Environment Partnership, said: “The awards are a real opportunity to highlight the excellent environmental work that goes on in our county every year.

“I never fail to be impressed by the efforts of volunteers, schools, businesses and community organisations, but we need more people to tell us about their environmental work so we can give them the recognition they deserve and, in doing so, inspire others to do their bit.”

Now in their 29th year, the awards, which are sponsored by which are sponsored by Durham County Council, Durham University, Banks Group, Citrus Group, Lichfields and Durham Wildlife Trust, will see prizes rewarding top design, environmental guardianship and community spirited work.

There are awards in 12 categories, including for the built environment, climate change, community partnership, craftsmanship, greener business, natural environment, places and spaces, schools and colleges and waste management.

There are also awards for volunteer group of the year, volunteer of the year and under 18 volunteer of the year.

Recent winners have included Durham County Council’s £3m restoration of Durham’s Wharton Park, Crook Hall Visitor Centre, Durham Heritage Coast Partnership’s Reach for the Beach festival and Witton Park’s Brothers at War project.

Mr Sherratt said: “We have had winners including conservation projects, environmental work at the coast, building restorations, environmental tourism, community gardens, school and community allotments, environmental education programmes, sustainable engineering projects and gardening clubs so we’d encourage anyone who feels they deserve to be celebrated to put themselves forward.

“If what you have been doing in the last year has been positive for the environment of County Durham, we want to hear about it.”

The deadline for 2018 entries is Friday, July 27 and winners will be announced at a ceremony in November.

To submit an entry visit go to www.countydurhampartnership.co.uk/envawards or call 03000 267 133.