THE Northern Echo's Making a Difference environmental competition has been won by the people of an area that battled back in the face of great adversity.

Furness, Cameron and Belk (FCB) Residents' Association, in the Hartlepool streets of the same name, beat two other shortlisted schemes to secure the prize.

Sponsored by regional development agency One NorthEast, Making a Difference honours volunteer-led projects.

FCB Residents' Association's work has included working with landlords to improve rented properties and setting up a letting agency, working with other agencies to drive drug dealers out of the area, campaigning successfully for better security, putting up hanging baskets and creating a community garden.

Secretary Julie Hetherington said: "This area was going downhill and we wanted to do something about it. This is about a community working together."

West Rainton Green Group and North Bitchburn Community Association narrowly missed out on the top prize.

West Rainton Green Group, based in the County Durham village, carries out projects including green markets, litter-picking, tidying up paths and operating an environmental programme for children.

North Bitchburn Community Association, based in the village near Crook, County Durham, runs activities including creating a sports pitch, tidying up areas, planting bulbs, growing vegetables for elderly residents and running projects for young people.

Judges were Susan Stewart, environment specialist advisor for One NorthEast, Richard Wood, the chief executive of Durham Wildlife Trust, and freelance environmental journalist John Dean. They said: "All three schemes impressed us and this was not an easy decision.

"North Bitchburn impressed us with their community spirit and with the way people are pulling together, West Rainton with the broad range of their work, not only across all sorts of environmental activities but also across the age ranges.

"But the FCB Residents' Association won because it really is making a difference to its area out of true adversity. It has helped forge a great community spirit."

The presentation will be made by Dr David Bellamy, at a date yet to be confirmed.