BUSINESS bosses from across East Lancashire were praised for their efforts to protect the environment at an award giving ceremony last night.

Held at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, The Lancashire Business Environment Association Awards gave recognition to local firms which had taken measures to become more environmentally friendly.

Arthur Ready, managing director of R U Recycling, Darwen, who received the award for Environmental Technology Innovation, said: "This is unbelievable as it is the first award we have won as such a new company, launched in 2003, but I hope it will go on to be the first of many.

"By making our collections process three times quicker we have a third less vehicles on the road, which means we are reducing emissions which damage the environment by a third."

Mick Fadden, managing director for Woodhey Engineering Ltd, Stacksteads, who scooped the award for Energy Efficiency, added: "We are winners all round as we are helping the environment and in doing so our business has become more profitable. I would recommend making energy saving measures to any business as even simple things like turning off the lights and computers at the end of the day can make a difference."

Winners:

Waste Minimisation: Expac of Preston Ltd, Preston and Sarah Lee Courtaulds, Morecambe; Business in the Community: Growing with Nature Ltd, Pilling; Environmental Management: B and I Fabrications, Burnley; Environmental Technology Innovation: R U Recycling, Darwen and BAE Systems, Samlesbury; Water Wise: R Barker and Sons Transport Ltd, Ormskirk and St Regis Paper Company Ltd, Darwen; New Business Start Up: Trinity Community Partnership, Clitheroe; Energy Efficiency: Woodhey Engineering Ltd, Bacup and BAE Systems, Warton.