SEVEN East Lothian groups have been celebrating after scooping awards recognising their green-fingered efforts.

They were among more than 150 organisations recognised by Keep Scotland Beautiful at the It’s Your Neighbourhood awards. The accolade celebrates their efforts to clean up and improve their local communities.

Initiatives from improving access to allotments to implementing school wildlife clubs or adopting areas of derelict land were all celebrated.

The awards are split into different levels, ranked from level one to level five.

Top were The Ridge, from Dunbar, and the Glebe Greenspace Project, which is based in Athelstaneford.

Both were ranked level five – outstanding – and received a certificate of distinction.

Also ranked at level five was Belhaven Hospital Community Garden, while Growing Matters was ranked at level four – thriving.

Also celebrating were Climate Friendly Aberlady, which was ranked at level three – advancing – and Glorious Gullane Bloomers and Ormiston Blooms Together, both ranked as level two – improving.

Katie Murray, communities and place manager from Keep Scotland Beautiful, congratulated all the entrants.

She said: “Every It’s Your Neighbourhood participant deserves this recognition for their hard work and determination to improve their own community.

“By volunteering their own time, the 2019 groups have managed to support hundreds of environmental initiatives across Scotland.

“I would like to offer my congratulations to all of the groups involved.

“I hope that their enthusiasm inspires many more people to take part in helping to improve their local community in 2020.”

Meanwhile, the Pollinator Friendly Award, run in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, was presented to joint winners: Growing Matters at Gilmerton House Kitchen Garden, near Athelstaneford, and the Organic Growers of Fairlie, North Ayrshire.

This recognised their activities to help stop and reverse the decline in pollinator numbers.