PROFESSIONALS have been saluted for working to improve the quality of life.

A Georgian-themed garden restoration at Sunnyfield House, Guisborough, was described as a perfect place to escape to, by judges at the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's third Design Awards.

A lighting scheme for Saltburn's historic pier, entrance building, cliff lift and grade II-listed beach huts, and the building of Sterne Cottages, on the site of a former petrol filling station at Skelton, also won awards.

A revamp of Bakehouse Square, Guisborough, with remodelled walls and landscaping, won a commendation as did the Ladle of Steel sculpture on an A66 roundabout at South Bank.

The award winners and those who received plaques and certificates, were chosen by a panel of assessors.

Councillor Peter Spencer, the council's design champion and chairman of the judging panel, said: "We've been delighted, once again, with the overall standard and the award winners deserve the highest praise."