A GREEN award for a council's efforts to improve the environment has been branded a joke by opposition councillors.

Sedgefield Borough Council won the gold trophy for the Northern region in the annual Green Apple awards.

The award, for which more than 180 local authorities were nominated this year, is presented for environmental best practice.

But Councillor Ben Ord, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, attacked Sedgefield's record on the environment.

He said the council ranked 266th out of 267 local authorities in a recent survey, with only three per cent of the area's waste being recycled.

He pointed to an environment award for the refurbished Spennymoor town centre - the improvements included an £11,000 statue, which was subsequently demolished because it was so unpopular.

And he criticised proposals for 750 new homes on Whitworth Park, in Spennymoor, which he says will spoil nearby woodland.

Coun Ord said: "I think this is a political award. It's a joke that they should get an award when they are doing all the wrong things environmentally.

"I can't understand it. I've tried to get the becks cleaned up in the past, but there is very little money put aside for green issues."

Coun Lucy Hovvels, the council's cabinet member for the environment, said the award acknowledged the efforts of the council and the people of the borough.

She said: "Our efforts will continue, with additional projects being developed and all people being encouraged to participate.

"We expect that this is the first of many such awards to be credited to the people of Sedgefield borough."