Eco-minded individuals, community groups and businesses are invited to enter the Norwich and Norfolk Eco Awards, which celebrate and reward environmental excellence across the county.

Traditionally the long-running award scheme has only been open to organisations in the city, but last year Norwich City Council teamed up with Norfolk County Council to launch the new and improved awards for the whole county.

Two new categories were added last year – outstanding eco-food producer and eco-home.

Food producers must demonstrate great environmental credentials and individual homeowners must show their homes are as energy efficient as possible.

These new additions join long-standing categories of eco primary and secondary school, community group and small/medium business.

Bert Bremner, cabinet member for environmental strategy, said: 'Our aim is to celebrate countywide projects and schemes with a strong ecological or environmentally-friendly ethos or groups and organisations which can show they adopt a sound eco-approach to all their business.'

Winners of last year's eco-food producer category, Mrs Temple's Cheese, Wighton, have since bought a second electric car which they used to drive to Italy.

Stephen Temple said: 'By winning the award our hope was to get plenty of publicity, showing that doing the right thing for the environment can make good business sense.

'The environment, and in particular climate change, is the most important issue facing mankind today. We consider it a vital part of our business strategy, and I hope other businesses take a similar attitude.'

Entries to the competition are free and winners will receive a trophy and certificate as well as Eco Awards branding to use for marketing purposes.

For further information and to apply online visit www.norwich.gov.uk/ecoawards or www.norfolk.gov.uk/ecoawards, or call 01603 212545.

Closing date for entries is Tuesday, February 14. The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, March 16, at The Forum in Norwich.