THE judges in East Lancashire's premier environmental competition have drawn up their shortlist.

The winners of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's Grimewatch awards will be announced in March - but we can now reveal the judges' nominees for the top prizes.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph editor Peter Butterfield, nature expert Ron Freethy, Tidy Britain Group regional director David Smith and Adrian Blundell of the Groundwork Trust had the difficult task of poring through this year's entries.

Thousands of people have been working to make East Lancashire a better place over the last year - resulting in dozens of entries to Grimewatch.

Among the projects the judges had to consider were litterbusting schemes, recycling initiatives, energy-saving business ideas and major landscaping developments.

Mr Butterfield said: "Grimewatch is going from strength to strength. "The judges were very impressed with the quality and the range of the entries, particularly in the community section.

"The judging is never an easy task because all of the entries were worthy of awards but we had to choose winners."

Shortlisted projects were:

Nursery schools - Audley Nursery, Blackburn; Pendle Nursery, Barnoldswick; Shadsworth Infant School nursery class, Blackburn.

Primary schools - Holy Trinity, Darwen; Todmorden Road, Burnley; Blackamoor School, Blackburn.

Secondary schools - St Christopher's High, Accrington; Edge End High, Nelson; Queens Park High, Blackburn.

Businesses - Citrol, Darwen; Scapa Scandia, Blackburn; Ouzledale Foundry, Barnoldswick.

Community projects - Riverside Park Group, Stacksteads; Ewood, Blackburn; Recreation Area for Cliviger Appeal, Cliviger; Sough Lane Farm, Guide

Heritage - Carrprint, Barnoldswick; St Mary's Burial Ground, Clayton-le-Moors; Clayton Hall Victorian Garden, Clayton-le-Moors.

Local authority - Hyndburn Borough Council; Ribble Valley Borough Council; Burnley Borough Council

Long term projects - Lomeshaye Marsh, Nelson; Hapton Parish Council, Hapton; Riverside Park Group, Stacksteads.

The winners of the Grimebuster and Junior Grimebuster of the Year titles will be announced at the awards ceremony.

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