ONE of the Ribble Valley's most ardent environment campaigners has been nominated for a top national 'green' award.

Mary Horner has been invited to London to attend the prestigious British Environment and Media Awards where John Gummer, Secretary of State for the Environment, will be guest of honour.

Mrs Horner, of Heights Farm, Bolton-by-Bowland, is one of 20 nominees for the Andrew Lees Memorial Award, which is judged by national newspaper and broadcasting correspondents. The nominees have been commended for their painstaking research and investigation as environmental campaigners and the judges are preparing to make some tough decisions.

Mrs Horner has fought for the last three years to expose the use of hazardous waste fuel Cemfuel at Castle Cement's plant near Clitheroe as "backdoor" incineration of toxic chemicals.

Mrs Horner said: "I am delighted with the nomination and will be travelling to London for the awards ceremony.

"It gives some kind of credibility to the work campaigners are doing locally.

"And it is nice to know that the work is being recognised."

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