THREE parks in Halton have been officially recognised as being amongst the country's best.

Halton Borough Council is celebrating triumphantly once again after receiving Green Flag Awards for Runcorn Hill Park, Victoria Park and Hale Park.

As a testament to all of the hard work and dedication, the team has achieved the accreditation of the ‘international quality mark for parks and green spaces’ for ensuring that everyone can always enjoy green spaces.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag award scheme manager Paul Todd MBE said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Halton Borough Council in achieving a Green Flag award.

“The three winning parks across Halton are vital green spaces for the community, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles.

“The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

The Green Flag award scheme aims to ensure that everybody has access to good quality green and open spaces in the area that they live in, and that these green spaces are appropriately managed and meet the needs of the communities that they serve.

The scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces and sets the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces.

Cllr Stef Nelson, the council’s executive board member for environment and urban renewal, added: “We are very proud of our parks and open spaces in Halton.

“It is excellent to see the efforts of our staff and volunteers recognised on a national level.”