THE team renovating Rock Ferry's iconic Byrne Avenue Baths have won a major award.

Byrne Avenue Trust scooped the national 'Locality 2019 Save Our Spaces Award' for their work which will bring the historic pool and baths back to life.

They beat a shortlist of three to bag the prestigious prize as well as £1,000 to add to their funding pot.

The award recognised the team's work in saving the historic Wirral building from the bulldozers and praised plans to revamp and re-open it for the local community.

Work has already started work on the listed building, which will be brought back to use as a sports and community centre, thanks to funding from grants providers, including Power to Change and Garfield Weston.

During the course of the project, Power to Change, the independent trust that supports community businesses across England, has already given the Trust a grant worth more than £300,000 to support the restoration fund of the famed Rock Ferry bath house.

Some of the funds are already being used to pay local tradesmen and craftsmen - part of a commitment to support the local Wirral economy.

Chair of trustees, Ben Harrison collected the award, along with project manager Jane Richards, as part of the Locality Convention.

Ben said: "Everyone at Byrne Avenue Trust is delighted to have won the Save Our Spaces Awards at this year's Locality Convention.

"We are a small charity who have been working hard to save our beautiful building. To have that work recognised by being presented with a national award is amazing.

"The support in the room that evening from other like-minded organisations was fantastic.

"The prize money will be used to continue our work on restoring Phase 1 of the Baths so we can open as a Sports and Community Centre as soon as possible."