Parks around the borough have been awarded the Green Flag by an environmental charity recognising the best green spaces in the country.

Colliers Wood Recreation Ground and Dundonald Recreation Ground are among 1,476 parks, cemeteries, universities, shopping centres and community gardens recognised by the Keep Britain Tidy charity this year.

Green flags have also been awarded to Wimbledon's South Park Gardens and Morden's John Innes Park and Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Fields.

The Green Flag Awards are distributed by the charity's volunteer experts, who judge nominated sites against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.

The announcement of this year's award-winners on Monday coincides with Love Parks Week, a national initiative designed to promote green spaces.

Councillor Stephen Alambritis, leader of Merton Council, said: "It is great news that our parks have, once again, been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award.

"Our green spaces continue to be hugely popular to the many residents and visitors who visit Merton and we’ve made a continuous effort to improve our parks by, for example, adding new green gyms, developing paddling pools and play areas and introducing new hi-tech litter bins recently."