KEEP Britain Tidy presented Cheshire West and Chester Council with nine national Green Flag awards for its parks and green spaces this week.

The Green Flag Award Scheme recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country.

This year Green Flag Status has been awarded to three parks in Ellesmere Port and Neston.

Rivacre Valley, Stanney Fields Park and Whitby Park have been given Green Flag Status.

Caldy Nature Park, Castle Park, Grosvenor Park, Northwich Woodlands, Westminster Park, and new for this year Helsby Quarry were the other parks in Chester to receive the status.

A Community Green Flag award has also been presented for Overleigh Cemetery, following the hard work of the 'Friends of' group and the involvement of the Community Payback scheme.

Members of the Council's Greenspace team have worked closely with park partners, 'Friends of' groups, volunteers and the Council's StreetCare team over the last year at the various sites.

The Green Flag Award scheme is organised by the Keep Britain Tidy consortium and is the benchmark standard nationally and internationally for parks and green spaces in England, Wales and across the world.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Climate Emergency, Cllr Matt Bryan said: "Our parks and green spaces are very special places where residents can come together to rest, relax, play, exercise and have fun.

"I am delighted that nine sites throughout Cheshire West have been awarded this high accolade, something I know our Greenspace and StreetCare Teams have worked hard to achieve.

"Special congratulations go to everyone involved at Helsby Quarry, which has achieved this recognition for the first time.

"In many cases our teams are helped by dedicated local groups, who want to make their open spaces as green, sustainable and enjoyable as possible for all and dedicate a lot of their free time to maintaining the park. Many thanks for everything you do for us."