Blackburn with Darwen Food Alliance and the borough's council have won the Sustainable Food Places Bronze award for the work going on across the borough to promote healthy, sustainable and local food.

This national award celebrates places that take a joined-up, holistic approach to championing sustainable and healthy food.

It recognises the work being undertaken to tackle some of today’s greatest social challenges; from food poverty and diet-related ill-health, to the disappearance of family farms and the loss of independent food retailers.

Councillor Jackie Floyd, chair of the Food Alliance, said: "It is so good to finally be celebrating this award.

"The Bronze Award incorporates every aspect of the food economy in Blackburn with Darwen and we have our own unique experience which we are deservedly celebrating.

"The Food Alliance welcomes everyone who embraces the challenging conversations about food.

"The alliance welcomes all who are embracing the challenging conversations about food for our wellbeing, our communities and our planet.

"This is a big step on our collective food journey. I want to thank everyone who has contributed.”

Achieving this award is recognition of the excellent work that is going on across the borough by many different and varied organisations from all sectors of our community.

Blackburn with Darwen Food Alliance CIO is supported in part by the council and brings together community, voluntary, faith, public and private sector organisations working to ensure that everyone in the borough has access to good food which is produced sustainably.

It is leading an exciting good food movement within the borough through connecting people and growing a Good Food Movement which celebrates the diverse food cultures within our community.

This includes work with community gardens, organisations providing food support, work to reduce food waste and promoting our local food producers and independent food retailers.

Cllr Damian Talbot, executive member for public health, prevention and wellbeing, added: "Our vision, as a council and as partners with the Food Alliance, is for all residents to have a good quality of life – and a huge part of that is healthy food.

"This is exactly what this partnership is doing and this award is truly deserved by everyone involved.”

Leon Ballin, Sustainable Food Places programme manager, said: "Blackburn with Darwen has shown just what can be achieved when creative and committed people work together to make healthy and sustainable food a defining characteristic of where they live.

"While there is still much to do and many challenges to overcome, they have helped to set a benchmark for other members of the UK Sustainable Food Places Network to follow.

"We look forward to working with them over the months and years ahead to continue to transform Blackburn with Darwen’s food culture and food system for the better.”