A GUIDE to building a greener future for the North-East has won a hat-trick of awards.

The Building-in Sustainability booklet won a Green Apple National Gold award, an industrial services award for sustainability from the Leeds and Yorkshire Times and a Royal Town Planning Institute commendation.

The guide, produced by a regional partnership led by Durham County Council, offers advice on creating buildings that are more energy efficient and better designed to fit in with their surroundings.

Councillor Bob Pendlebury, council cabinet member for sustainability, said: "It is always something special to receive a prestigious award for good work, but when three come along at once, it takes your breath away."

Institute chiefs will be visiting the council's flagship sustainable building, Catchgate School, near Stanley, on Thursday at 2pm, to present the award.