THREE businesses that have breathed new life into their tired and dilapidated buildings have won Civic Pride awards.

Adjoining electrical and hairdressing businesses in Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, and Peggotty's the Bakers, in Wolsingham, are silver winners in the 2004 national award scheme.

Both buildings were transformed with the help of building grants and nominated by Durham County Council.

In Bishop Auckland, next door neighbours Paul Stanley, owner of Bondgate Electrical Distribution Limited, and Christine Spence and Jane Condren, from the Hairdressing Company, have rescued run-down premises in the town centre.

They had funding from Durham county and Wear Valley district councils through the Bishop Auckland Townscape Heritage Initiative. The building was given a new roof, brickwork was cleaned and repointed, and craftsmen created replicas of stone and timber details using old photographs.

Mr Stanley, whose shop was once the Edinburgh Castle pub and later a DIY store, said: "This was one of the worst places in the town. It was an absolute disaster and now it is unrecognisable.

"I would encourage anybody to do the same as this. Buildings like these don't deserve to be neglected."

Ms Spence hopes other Fore Bondgate businesses will follow their lead.

She said: "We wanted to give the shop a traditional look. It would be wonderful if the whole street was the same."

Peggotty's is one of 20 properties in Wolsingham that have been improved with grants from the Wolsingham Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme, funded by the councils, English Heritage and regional development agency One NorthEast.

The owners installed a timber shopfront, paying attention to traditional details and installing sash windows in the upper floors.

Councillor Bob Pendlebury, the county council's cabinet member for environment, said: "These awards highlight the tremendous impact that building grant schemes are having in regenerating the towns and villages of the county.

For details about grant schemes call the county council's design and conservation team on 0191-383 3347.