THE stars of East Lancashire's green scene have been honoured in the annual environmental 'Oscars' ceremony.

The leading players were presented with prestigious Grimewatch awards yesterday at Our Lady and St John School RC High School in Blackburn - last year's winning school.

The event marked the end of a hugely successful year for the Grimewatch environmental campaign.

Now in its eighth year, the campaign has flourished and the 1996 competition attracted more entries than ever before.

Entries came from all sections of the community, from nursery school pupils to pensioners, businesses and local authorities.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph editor Peter Butterfield welcomed the continued success of Grimewatch.

He said: "I never cease to be amazed by the variety and scope of entries we get in the Grimewatch competition.

"Not only has the number of entries increased, so has the quality. "It is particularly gratifying for me to see so many young people getting actively involved in hands-on environmental action. They are far more aware of environmental issues than my generation ever was - as a child I had never even heard of an eco system let alone have any idea what one is!

"And this year, it is pleasing to see even pensioners getting their wellies on to get involved in some great projects - they are proof that you don't have to be young to be green.

"Without the efforts of all these people Grimewatch could not continue to thrive as it does.

"Keep up the good work."

Mr Butterfield also thanked the Grimewatch sponsors, including British Aerospace, Lancashire Waste Services, Blackburn Shopping Centre and Lancashire County Council for continued support. Guest speaker at this year's awards was Lancashire's Chief Constable Pauline Clare.

She praised the efforts of everyone who entered the competition saying that their work was also helping to improve lives and hopefully reduce crime levels.

She said: "It is not possible for the Lancashire Constabulary to make people feel safe, involved and re-assured - which is our aim - unless we have the co-operation of all sectors of the community.

"Similarly, the environment will not improve unless each of us participates.

"Both the Cawl Terrace Residents' Association and the North Valley Action Group projects are of particular interest to me as a police officer.

"In both cases, problems of minor damage, and indeed more serious criminal activity, have been identified. In conjunction with police, an imaginative solution has been found which has the added bonus of improving both areas."

Urging everyone involved with Grimewatch to carry on with their work she added: "I cannot praise highly enough these imaginative efforts to improve our environment."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.