AN East Lancashire shopkeeper's campaign to help make the region greener has earned him a major environmental award.

Darren Turner who runs Cartridge World in Rawtenstall and Accrington picked up a Business in the Community Award at the Lancashire BEA Environmental Awards at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, for its contribution towards community recycling.

The Cartridge World campaign - Plant a Local Tree Not a Cartridge - was launched in July.

It aims to reduce the damaging impact on the local environment caused by cartridge use by encouraging people to refill their cartridges rather than just throw them away.

Customers receive a stamp every time they refill an old cartridge and for every full card, Cartridge World plant trees in Rossendale and Hyndburn.

Darren, director of Cartridge World, said: "We live in a throw-away society and we need to increase awareness that refilling cartridges and toners is an effective option in an effort to cut down on landfill.

"I hope that this award will help highlight that issue and maybe make one or two more people think twice about the consequences of their actions.

"The campaign has been a real success since we launched it.

"We have a number of customers with full cards which means more trees in Rossendale and Hyndburn."

"I live and work in the area and I am keen to do something positive that will focus directly on the community that we serve."

Cartridge World is working in conjunction with Groundwork.

Customers will receive a letter telling them where their tree is being planted.

Darren added: "Tree cover in East Lancashire is less than half the national average so this scheme really is good news for the local environment."