The clock is ticking in the hunt to find the schools, businesses and community groups across Norfolk which are showing outstanding commitment to safeguarding the environment.

Norwich's Heather Avenue Infant School, which created an innovative wildlife area, Norwich Farmshare group - which offered more than a hundred people the chance to work on the land in exchange for weekly shares of fresh local vegetables - and a green cleaning company are all previous winners of the Norwich Eco Awards.

And this year, the free awards scheme has been extended beyond the city's boundaries and renamed as the Norwich and Norfolk Eco Awards.

The aim is to celebrate 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 receive a trophy and certificate as well as Eco Awards branding to use for marketing purposes.

Bert Bremner, Norwich City Council cabinet member for environmental strategy, said: 'The Eco Awards are a great way of championing all the brilliant work to protect and enhance the local environment, which we know groups and organisations are doing every day.

'It's really exciting to see it expanding to incorporate not only more worthwhile work with food production and homes but also opening the invitation to everyone in Norfolk to take part.'

This year, for the first time, the awards is also looking for local food producers and eco homeowners in addition to eco primary and secondary school, community group and small/medium business.

For further information and to apply online or download an application form visit here or here, email ecoawards@norwich.gov.uk or eco.awards@norfolk.gov.uk or call 01603 212545.

• Are you involved in a pioneering environmental project? Call reporter Dan Grimmer on 01603 772375 or email dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk