FOUR green spaces across Colchester have been awarded prestigious Green Flag awards.

Castle Park, High Woods Country Park, and Colchester Cemetery and Crematorium all received Green Flag status, which are awarded by the Keep Britain Tidy charity.

As part of the criteria that green spaces need to meet for the award, parks need to be well-maintained, show they offer a welcoming space for members of the public, and encourage community involvement.

Spaces are checked regularly throughout the year by judges before the final awards are made.

Castle Park gained extra honours in the form of the Green Heritage award, which is supported by Historic England.

UK-wide, there are more than 2,000 parks which have received the Green Flag award, with 170 sites obtaining the honour across the east of England region.

Colchester Council’s portfolio holder for neighbourhood services and waste, Martin Goss, said it was a valuable award.

He said: “We should all be immensely proud of our green spaces.

“They are a unique and wonderful community asset, providing a place to meet up, walk or play, or just to appreciate some quiet contemplation, as well as being important havens for wildlife.”