A VILLAGE school near York is the first to enter our Community Pride awards - with a project to transform two eyesore flower beds in the heart of the community.

Margaret Tailby, Year 6 teacher at Skelton Primary School, has applied for a City of York Council community grant to carry out the project.

If she gets cash from the council, Margaret hopes to take groups of her pupils to transform two ugly raised flower beds outside the village shop - currently bare and full of weeds - by filling them with new top soil and planting bulbs and shrubs. They also plan to sweep the paving near the beds, pick up litter and dig out unsightly weeds from between paving slabs.

Margaret said: "We just thought it was a neglected area. Most people go to the shop nearly every day. We thought it was something we could do and it would have quite a visual impact.

"If people know that children have created the flower bed, it's more likely to be looked after," she said.

The flower beds belong to village shop owners Hugh and Jenny Simmons, whose son, Matthew, is in Margaret's class.

We are still searching for York's community heroes. We want to hear about innovative school projects, businesses that have demonstrated outstanding customer care, young people that deserve recognition in our Spirit of Youth or Mother's Pride categories.

Send us your nominations by filling in the entry form on this page, remembering to include the category and a supporting statement on no more than two sides of A4.

Our judges will select three finalists in each category, and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on December 1.

We are also looking for more sponsors for our awards.

To find out more about sponsoring an award category, phone Nigel Briggs at the Evening Press on 01904 653051, or email nigel.briggs@ycp.co.uk.

Updated: 10:38 Saturday, June 19, 2004