AN impressive cast of environmental superheroes assembled for East Lancashire's own green Oscars.

And the big stars of the green scene were honoured with Grimewatch awards.

The award ceremony at Witton Park High School in Blackburn marked the end of another successful year for Grimewatch.

And it was also the first anniversary celebration for the new Grimewatch partnership involving the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Groundwork and the Tidy Britain Group.

The green troubleshooters from Groundwork came on board last year to help Grimewatch go from strength to strength in its sixth year.

And it did just that - entries were up on last year proving that Grimewatch is still a powerful environmental force in East Lancashire. Lancashire Evening Telegraph editor Peter Butterfield welcomed the continued success of the campaign saying: "Who would have thought that the campaign to stimulate the people of East Lancashire into all sorts of environmental action would have kept going for so long.

"Although I had the original idea for Grimewatch it would have been absolutely impossible for it to succeed as it has done without all the help we have had from our sponsors and supporters and without you, the people of East Lancashire who are out there working to protect and preserve our environment.

"Keep up the good work."

And praising the high quality of entries he added: "Judging this year was particularly difficult - the variety, scope, quality and innovation of many of the entries amazed the judges."

Guest speaker, former Environment Minister Sir David Trippier, also praised the efforts of the people taking part in Grimewatch, especially the children. "When I was the 'green minister' I used to get hundreds of letters from school children expressing concern about everything from the hole in the ozone layer to litter on the streets.

"Children today definitely know a lot more about the environment than we did as children, and that has been shown today.

"Even from the most tender age they are getting involved in green action.

"And it is our responsibility as adults to make sure we pass on to the next generation a higher and better quality of life than we have had."

Looking back to his childhood in Rochdale Sir David added that environmental standards had improved dramatically since then.

But he added: "There is still a lot to be done and it is through schemes like Grimewatch that we can make a real difference."

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