An initiative has been launched to encourage businesses to support a campaign to make Hartlepool cleaner and more attractive.

The Tidy Business Charter is a joint venture between Hartlepool Borough Council's Pride in Hartlepool campaign and the Tidy Britain Group.

Businesses can sign up to the charter free and will receive a bronze, silver or gold award, depending on their level of commitment.

The bronze award represents the basic level of waste management that businesses should be reaching, silver is for companies exceeding this and gold reflects the achievement of businesses which take extra steps to improve their local environment.

The charter was launched in Elwick with the presentation of a gold award to Brian and Isabel Rawlings, who run the village post office and shop, by the Mayor of Hartlepool, councillor Doug Ferriday.

Their environmentally- friendly actions include collecting litter from around the shop, emptying a rubbish bin and ensuring that plants and hanging baskets around the village green are kept watered.