CREWE'S Queens Park is flying the Green Flag again after the efforts of staff and supporters were recognised by Keep Britain Tidy.

The Grade II listed park also picked up a Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management of its historic features, which include its Victorian clock tower and Boer War Memorial.

Queens Park was among nine parks and green spaces in the borough recognised by the Green Flag Award. It also received the accolade last year.

The scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the UK and around the world.

It is defined as the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Receiving Green Flags along with Queens Park were Congleton Park, Sandbach Park, Fountain Fields in Middlewich, Bollington Rec, The Moor in Knutsford, Tegg's Nose Country Park, Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve and Alsager Milton Park in Alsager.

Tatton Park received an international mark of accreditation and was named with Queens Park and Congleton Park as a Green Heritage Site, an accreditation supported by Historic England.

Cllr Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee, said: "The Green Flag Awards represent the very pinnacle of how we celebrate our outdoor spaces. Winning these awards is recognition of how partnership working can make such a difference as it simply wouldn't be possible to achieve without the commitment of so many amazing volunteer groups.

"Now more than ever, the enormous social and community value they provide to many people is critical to our physical and mental wellbeing.

"Good parks also have hugely positive impacts both in terms of our commitment to climate change and the increased biodiversity they provide."

Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: "To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management in providing places that support people to live healthy lives."