A NATIONAL award-winning environmental campaign has been extended.

Durham County Council’s Operation Spruce Up is continuing due to the results it has achieved in communities and the positive feedback it has received. The programme was launched in 2016 with council teams working with partners – including more than 4,000 children and young people, to give a town or village centre an intensive clean up each month.

In a survey carried out in communities visited by Spruce Up, 90 per cent of people taking part said they had noticed an improvement as a result of the work done. The programme has won national recognition, having landed the ‘Campaign of the year’ at environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy’s Network Awards 2018. On the back of these successes, the council has extended the programme’s initial 14 month run and Spruce Up has now begun work at Blackhall Colliery and in the coming months will visit Pelton, Tow Law, Gilesgate, Trimdon Grange, Annfield Plain and Cockfield.

The team will visit the local primary schools to organise poster competitions, and the winning poster will be displayed in the community.