KEEN "green champions" have been honoured for their commitment to improving Bolton's environment.

Bolton's Mayor Cllr Alan Wilkinson presented the certificates at the Civic Pride Awards ceremony sponsored by the Bolton Evening News.

The ceremony took place in a marquee in Victoria Square, headquarters of the Bolton Environment Festival.

This year a special civic pride honour was awarded to former councillor Jack Foster for his "special contribution" to Bolton.

A councillor for 42 years, he chaired all the council committees associated with environmental issues from 1980 until his defeat in this year's local elections.

He was chairman of the Bolton Environment Forum since it was set up six years ago.

Under his leadership, Bolton has attracted environmental awards from far and wide including the European Sustainable Cities Certificate of Distinction; the People and Places Programme of the Year award and and Queen Mother's Birthday Award for Environmental Improvement.

This included a personal individual achievement award celebrating his outstanding dedication to the environment.

The other winners were:

Moses Gate Welding Works

This company was nominated for its "outstanding determination and enthusiasm to reduce the environmental impact of its business."

The amount of waste to landfill has been cut and production techniques and energy use have been made more efficient.

Four Ones Nursery

Owner Lesley Molloy has made every effort to ensure all aspects of her business take environmental principles into account. Re-usable, washable terry towelling nappies are used, preventing 300 disposable nappies going to landfill sites every week. Organic food is fed to the children and all waste is separated for re-cycling

Patrick Waring

Patrick is passionate about Bolton's ecological heritage and he has developed a number of action plans which will be used to improve Bolton for wildlife.

Current plans involve peat bogs, reedbeds and woodlands. Future plans include species such as the water vole and bluebells.

Johnson Fold CP School

Johnson Fold County Primary School was nominated for its positive attitudes towards environmental improvements throughout the school and community. The head is involved in the local community form and encourages the whole school to take part in activities.

Bolton and District Anglers Association

The association "adopted" the Bradford Reservoir and Smiths Brow Reservoir in the summer of 1996 and Nob End Canal at Little Lever early in 1998.

During the past four years, the anglers have undertaken many clean ups, filling several skips with rubbish pulled from these waters.

They have removed large and dangerous items from the water as well as picking up litter.