CHAMPIONS of the environment representing businesses, schools and the community were rewarded for their commitment at the seventh annual Groundwork Bury Dinner and Awards.

The event at the Longfield Suite in Prestwich attracted 260 guests and paid tribute to those who have adopted a strict "environmentally friendly" approach.

Awards were divided into eight categories which embraced everything from health, safety and environmental management, buildings, security, structures and landscape improvements through to community environmental projects and outstanding individuals in business and the community.

Over the years, Groundwork Bury have established the dinner and awards as the premier event of its kind in the borough - and this year was no exception. Guests included Burys mayor and mayoress, Councillor Barry Briggs and Coun Mrs Sharon Briggs, Euro MP Gary Titley and former chairman Dennis Taylor.

In his address to the guests, Groundwork Bury executive director Mr Paul Haunch said that 2004 had been a particularly successful year for the regeneration body."We have exceeded all our key performance indicators as well as securing funding to continue the Moving Pimhole Forward and the YouthWorks projects."

He outlined the history, aims and objectives of Groundwork and disclosed that 261 companies were now attached to its Business Environment Association and that the number of patrons had grown to 13.

In the last year, Groundwork Bury has generated a work programme to the value of £900,000, has improved 10,350 sq metres of land, planted 1,677 trees, provided 2,000 days of activity for young people, worked with 73 schools, actively worked with 81 businesses, carried out 61 environmental reviews and helped to create or safeguard 447 jobs.

New Groundwork Bury chairman, Coun John Byrne, made two personal awards. A special merit award went to Mike West, former Bury SRB co-ordinator, while the chairmans special award was received by Coun Byrnes predecessor, Dennis Taylor

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AWARDS

Health, Safety & Environmental Management. Winner Seward Refridgeration. Highly commended BEP Surface Technologies Ltd; Chadwicks of Bury; Ernhills Bakery; Wallwork Heat Treatment.

Energy, Water and Waste Management. Winner BEP Surface Technologies Ltd. Highly commended Colour Anodising Ltd; P&S Textiles; Senior Hargreaves; Thomas French Ltd.

Buildings, Security, Structures and Landscape Improvements. Winner Appleby Bowers. Highly commended Bracken Ltd; Senior Hargreaves.

Community Environmental Projects. Winner Topping Fold Community Garden. Special commendation Whitefield Junior Wardens. Highly commended Chesham Fold Community Centre; Pimhole Community Farm.

Schools Environmental Projects. Winner Holly Mount primary school. Highly commended Hollins Grundy; Springside and Whitefield primary schools.

Public Sector Initiative. Winner Community Greenways. Highly commended Business Investment Programme, Brook St Metal; Bury Streetcare Initiative; Bury Wildspaces Project; Kerbcraft; North West in Bloom, Parks and Countryside; Prestwich Village Strategy.

Outstanding Individual of the Year: Community. Winner Mavis Warner. Special commendation Winnie Green. Highly commended Stuart Andrews; Maureen North.

Outstanding Individual of the Year: Business. Winner David Chapman. Special commendation Graham Flack; Philip Morris.