PENDLE schools are to be rewarded for their efforts to improve the environment.

Pupils from eight schools are waiting to see if they have won a prize in the borough's annual Our Place, Our Pendle school awards.

The ceremony, now in its second year, takes place tonight at Colne Municipal Hall.

The awards encourage schools to develop their own project to benefit the school and community.

Jane Wright, of Pendle Council, said: "This year we received a diverse number of entries including enhancing the schools' environment through planting flowers and vegetables, new play equipment and murals which have also helped to encourage a sense of community pride.

"Other projects included paper recycling schemes, composting, tree planting, a walking bus, promoting healthy eating and a Fairtrade stall."

She added: "These awards are unique. Pendle is the only borough in the country which organises a schools awards scheme on this scale for these types of projects.

"The amount and range of projects entered shows how much schools can do on a local and small scale but which can have far reaching benefits for the wider community."

Schools taking part include Coates Lane Primary School, in Barnoldswick, Earby Springfield Primary School, Earby, St Mary's CofE Primary, Newchurch, Holy Saviour RC Primary, Marsden Primary, and St Philip's CofE Primary, all Nelson, and Primet Primary and Sacred Heart Primary, both Colne.