ELEVEN Northumberland parks have been recognised as being some of the best in the country.

Alexandra Park, Cramlington; Astley Park, Seaton Delaval; Bolam Lake Country Park, Carlisle Park, Morpeth; Castle Vale Park and Coronation Park, Berwick; Doctor Pit Park, Bedlington; Eastwoods Park, Prudhoe; Hexham Parks; Hirst Park, Ashington, Plessey Woods Country Park and Ridley Park, Blyth, have all been awarded Green Flag Awards by Keep Britain Tidy.

The Green Flag Award is a benchmark for quality for a park or green space.

Northumberland County Councillor John Riddle, cabinet member for local services, said: “Our local parks and green spaces are at the heart of our communities and are very much valued by all who visit them. 

“We invest in and work very hard to continually improve our parks and we are delighted to have retained the Green Flag status in eleven parks.   

“Each Green Flag Award is a testament to the dedication and hard work that has been put in by our residents and local volunteers and our own staff, towards maintaining the parks to very high standards.”