AN award recognising disabled facilities has been awarded to the Darlington Education Village.

The Darlington Access for All Award is presented by the Darlington Association on Disability each year.

The Education Village received this year's prize from the Mayor of Darlington, Eleanor Lister, at last week's awards ceremony.

The Civic Theatre, the Forum Music Centre, the Coleridge Centre in Skerne Park, and Darlington College's childcare centre were all highly commended.

The association received 35 nominations in total for the prize, which is given to a business or organisation that has "demonstrated a commitment to ensuring their business or open space is accessible to all, and that their organisation's culture embraces accessibility in all its forms."

Darlington Association on Disability chairman, Gordon Pybus, said: "The judges felt the Education Village's building, ethos, and staff attitude all fitted the criteria needed to be a worthy winner."

"Access is a lot more than ramps at doorways or minimum building requirements - it's about improving access for all disabled people by eliminating physical and attitude barriers."

The association was formed in 1986 as a voluntary and charitable organisation led by disabled people. It promotes independence and choice, and supports disabled people and their carers.