Douglas Borough Council has been awarded eight Green Flags by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

This year it secured two new flags – for Derby Square and Summerhill Glen.

Stephen Pitts is the regeneration and community committee chairman - he said: "I congratulate the Parks Service team on this outstanding achievement.

"It is extremely rewarding to be recognised by such an authoritative independent body as Keep Britain Tidy whose green flag judges were impressed not only by the visual qualities of the sites but also by the dedication and knowledge the team applies to creating and maintaining such high quality green spaces."

Six flags were retained for Noble’s Park, Douglas Golf Course, Douglas Head and Douglas Borough Cemetery, Hutchinson Square and the Marine Gardens.

Council Leader David Christian said: "Douglas is certainly punching above its weight as only local authorities in the north west of England serving much larger populations have won so many Green Flags this year.

"For Douglas to have achieved eight is testament to the hard work and vision of our head of parks David Hewes and his team.

"Douglas remains the Island’s sole local authority to be have been awarded Green Flags."