COUNCIL chiefs in Burnley have said a big "thank you" to local groups which helped them achieve a prestigious national award.

Burnley Borough Council received a People and Places award in the New Programme of the Year category for its Squeaky Clean programme, which helped tidy the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme area in a crack down on litter, graffiti and waste.

Organisers Encams, the group which runs the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, judged Burnley's contribution to the scheme the best in the country this year, out of 23 areas who took it up.

The council says winning the award was only possible with the "invaluable" help of the following groups: the Bangaldeshi Welfare Association; the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme Community Economic Development Trust; the Environment Agency; Groundwork East Lancashire; Jinnah Community Development; Lancashire police; the Sustainability Action Partnership; Encams and Biffa Waste Services.