THE winner of The Northern Echo's community environment competition has been chosen - and it represents the efforts of an entire town.

For the first time in Making a Difference's six-year history, the quality of entries was so high that four projects were selected for a visit by the judging panel.

The Saltburn 500 club was chosen as the winner, and will receive £500.

Judges were freelance journalist John Dean, Durham Wildlife Trust conservation manager Terry Coult, and Phil Hughes -a board member of the competition's sponsor, regional development agency One NorthEast.

The club is the umbrella organisation for a range of groups in the town, including Saltburn in Bloom and the Friends of Hazelgrove, which have helped to revitalise the east Cleveland community.

Schemes have ranged from restoring the bandstand to planting flower-beds and hanging baskets.

The judges' statement said: "Saltburn's project had strength in depth and brought together a number of other organisations to produce a co-operative effort that demonstrated enthusiasm, a passion for making a difference and a vibrancy that shows the long-term future is assured."

The runners-up were:

* South Bank Residents' Association, on Teesside, which has helped revive the area against great odds, including, in previous years, attacks from local youths and an arson at its headquarters.

* Harrowgate Hill Junior School, in Thompson Street West, Darlington, a runner-up last year and selected again for the variety of its environmental projects.

* Friends of Senior Citizens, in Newton Aycliffe, south Durham, which has breathed new life into the Neville Community Centre in Neville Parade.

The runners-up will also receive prizes.