THREE York parks have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award.

Baroness Kay Andrews, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has announced that Rowntree Park, Glen Gardens and West Bank Park have all won the award.

Dave Meigh, head of parks and open spaces at City of York Council, said: "I'm delighted three of the city's open spaces have received the Green Flag Award, particularly as this is the fourth year running that Rowntree Park has been given the accolade and the third year running for Glen Gardens.

"It would not have been possible to maintain the open spaces at the high standards required for the award had it not been for the help and support of the local community, especially the Friends of Rowntree and West Bank parks and the Glen Gardens Bowls Association. Other organisations such as Yorkcare, the Probation Service, the Scouts and Greenworks have also played a huge role in our success.

"The awards are recognition of their support and of the hard work and dedication of our parks team, which works all year round to maintain the environment for residents and visitors."

The Green Flag is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country. It was also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve the same high environmental standards, creating a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.

Alan Storey, treasurer of the West Bank Park Bowling Association, said: "I'm delighted the park's been given the award - it's a lovely park with beautiful trees and flowers. The award is a reflection of how hard the community has worked to make the park a nice place - the community's efforts have turned it into an attractive focal point for people from the local area."

Mr Storey said the community had been working hard to put in a rockery and fernery, as well as wood chip paths in the park's woodland.

He said the park's new café, Break in the Park, was encouraging more people to make use of the green space, off Acomb Road, Holgate.

"The park has done York proud," he added.

In order to be considered for the award, parks must show that they are welcoming, healthy, safe, clean and well-maintained, sustainable, that they are conserved and appropriately managed, that the community is actively involved with them, and that they are promoted as a resource for local people.