MORE parks and green spaces than ever before will be flying the Green Flag in Sandwell this year.

Brandhall Road Allotments, Oldbury, has received the award for the first time and Barnford Park and Haden Hill Park in Cradley Heath kept their gold standard marks.

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy runs the award scheme and Sandwell now has 13 Green Flag sites second only to Birmingham in the the West Midlands.

Councillor Maria Crompton, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for highways and environment, said: “Our parks and green spaces offer so much to the local community and I am so proud that everyone in Sandwell has at least one Green Flag park in their town.

“It’s also great that we have allotments, a cemetery and a crematorium with this prestigious award.

“Once again, Sandwell’s success in these awards shows we are no urban jungle – but a diverse area thriving with high-quality green spaces for people to use for a wide range of activities."

She added: “I want to thank all involved in keeping these areas so attractive – and everyone who helps make the most of them for community activities and events.”

Councillor Crompton paid tribute to Friends groups and volunteers, allotment committees, council staff and waste partner Serco for helping keep areas clean and tidy.

Chris Price, secretary of Brandhall Road Allotment Committee, said: "We are very pleased the allotment has been granted the Keep Britain Tidy Green Flag Community Award.

"We're holding our open day on August 22 from 12 noon to 3pm so we'd invite anyone from the local community to come along and look around."

Sandwell's green spaces are among a record-breaking 1,582 parks and green spaces to receive a prestigious Green Flag Award or Green Flag Community Award this year.