A PROJECT that saw pupils from Bleasdale School in Silverdale plant crocus bulbs - to highlight efforts by Rotary Clubs to eradicate polio worldwide - has won recognition.

The young people worked with members of Carnforth Rotary Club to plant the purple spring flowers at St John's Road, close to school. An afternoon also took place to help Rotary members understand the difficulties of four significantly disabled young people from the school.

Lancashire High Sheriff John Barnett chose the project to take part in the National Crimebeat Awards, and at an event in London it won joint second place from a range of projects nationwide. A £250 prize was presented to Bleasdale School, and £250 was given to Rotary's End Polio Now campaign, to which the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will add £500.

Meanwhile, individual 'commended' young citizen certificates were also presented to Bleasdale students Rebekah, John, Mathew and Sarah at the school.

John Blowes, president of Carnforth Rotary Club, said the awards recognised "the tremendous work done by members of staff and students day to day".

He said the crocus project and efforts by Rotary worldwide had helped bring the number of children affected by polio down from from hundreds of thousands, 30 years ago, to tens last year. Rotary hopes to eradicate the disease by 2019.