A woman has been given an MP award for her community spirit.
Jane Hodson-Hamilton, from Ponteland, has been recognised as a community champion after she received Guy Opperman's MP award during the Great British Spring Clean.
She is an environment campaigner and has dedicated her spare time to improving the environment in Ponteland with her regular litter picking.
Guy joined Jane on a litter pick with Ponteland Town Councillors Alan Hall and Christine Caisley.
He said: "I was delighted to present Jane with a Community Champion Award for her dedication to our local environment through her regular litter picking.
"It is shocking to see the amount of litter in our communities, and Jane’s dedication to our local environment deserves recognition from all of us.
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"There is no excuse for littering – anywhere. During the Great British Spring Clean, please get involved in local litter picks to make a difference in your local community.”
Speaking about the award, Jane Hodson-Hamilton said: “I was really delighted to receive the community champion award from Guy in recognition of the litter picking I do around Ponteland.
"The amount of litter all around us is shocking. It is so harmful to our wildlife as well as spoiling the environment for everyone.
"There is never an excuse for littering but until perpetrators begin to appreciate the consequences of their actions through a programme of education and enforcement then all our precious places and spaces will continue to suffer.”
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