THE stars of East Lancashire's green scene turned out in force for the area's environmental Oscars.

The winners took home attractive engraved trophies and framed certificates, and there were cash prizes for some category winners. Runners-up were presented with certificates.

The prestigious Grimebuster of the Year award was won by Mike Leighton, deputy headteacher of Holy Trinity Primary School in Darwen. He was awarded £100.

Mr Leighton has run environmental groups at the school for many years and has made innumerable improvements to the school grounds. He has fired pupils with enthusiasm for the environment which they, in turn, have passed onto their families.

The judges could not decide on a single Junior Grimebuster of the Year, so they decided to split the award between two lads from Stacksteads Youth Club, Rossendale.

Kevin Douglas, 16, and 14-year-old Danny Royle have been involved in every aspect of the club's project to build a community park at Rosemount. The teenagers share the £100 cash prize for the category.

Lancashire Waste Services sponsored the Grimebuster and Junior Grimebuster awards. The prizes in the school section were sponsored by Lancashire County Council. Each winning school receives £100.

Best Nursery School project went to Lee Royd Nursery, Accrington. The school has been working for three years to improve the grounds. A sculpture/nature trail, a pond and wet area have been created and bird tables and weather vanes installed.

Best Primary School Project went to St James' CE Primary, Clitheroe, where a piece of derelict land is being transformed into a wildlife area. Trees, shrubs, bulbs and herbs have been planted and bird boxes and bird tables provided.

Best Secondary School Project was won by Darwen Moorland High School. The School Community Action Team organised an aluminium can recycling initiative and used the money raised to buy bulbs for the school grounds. They have also been involved in a number of litter blitzes.

Best Business Project was won by Gaskell Textiles in Oswaldtwistle. The company recycles everything it can - even dust. It has cut the amount of waste produced by almost a quarter and slashed fuel costs by a fifth.

Best Local Authority Project went to Burnley Borough Council for its Forest of Burnley scheme. The council is working to double the woodland cover in Burnley over five years and is developing arts and education linked to trees. Thousands of people have been involved in planting trees so far.

Best Community Project was won by Stacksteads Youth Club, Rossendale. Members have developed a community park with picnic benches, a pond and walkways. The club was awarded £100 by category sponsors British Aerospace.

Best Heritage Project was won by St Mary's Burial Ground, Clayton-le-Moors. Volunteers have been restoring the ground since 1994. They have repaired and re-erected fallen crosses, built new walls and seating areas and are working on a memorial garden. The group receives £100.

Best Long-term Project went to the Foxhill Bank Nature Reserve in Oswaldtwistle. The Lancashire Wildlife Trust works with volunteers to look after the site, which boasts some 60 species of bird and is a highly-valued area of open space near the town centre. The reserve receives a £100 prize.

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