EIGHT parks across Bradford district have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag award.

The accolade is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the UK.

Six of the winning parks in the district are maintained by Bradford Council, while the other two are Leeds City Council-run.

The Bradford authority's Green Flag parks are Lister Park in Manningham; Peel Park in Bolton; Roberts Park in Saltaire; Harold Park in Low Moor; St Ives Estate in Bingley, and Central Park in Haworth.

Otley Chevin and Pudsey Park were the two Leeds Council parks to win the award.

Councillor Imran Khan, Bradford Council's executive member for environment and sport, said: "We are incredibly lucky to have such wonderful parks in our district and they are ideal places to spend time with family and friends.

"Congratulations must go to all the hard-working staff who look after our parks throughout the year, as well as the wonderful volunteer groups of 'friends' who contribute so much to them."

Leeds City Council's executive board member for communities, Cllr Debra Coupar said: "We are extremely fortunate to have some outstanding parks and green spaces in Leeds and it is fantastic news that Otley Chevin and Pudsey Park have retained Green Flag status.

"Massive congratulations to everyone who played their part. I would like to pay tribute to the tremendous hard work and dedication of all of our Parks and Countryside staff and countless volunteers who are the main reason why we are able to celebrate this amazing success.

"As a recognition of their efforts it was great to be able to take one of our truly dedicated gardeners, Alistair Muir, with me to collect the awards on behalf of the city."

The Green Flag award scheme is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government, and is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the UK.

The awards scheme was started in 1996 and Green Flags were first awarded to recognise the best green spaces and parks across the UK a year later in 1997. Potential sites for a Green Flag award are judged on a number of factors.

They are: is it a welcoming place; is it healthy, safe, secure, clean and well maintained; its sustainability; conservation and heritage; what community involvement there is; and marketing and management.