A company which has carried out work on Aston Reserve near Oswestry was left delighted when it was nominated for a national award.

Land and Water, which is a national company, was nominated for its work at the north Shropshire reserve on behalf on the Canal and River Trust, who hosted the awards.

The company were nominated in the natural environment category – eventually beaten by the Lugg Wetland Gem Project in Herefordshire – but Jayne Hornsby, from Land and Water, say they were delighted to be included.

"We were the runners up but we were absolutely chuffed with this as well because it's such a prestigious award," she said.

"We're a contracting company for the Canal and River Trust and this was a development that we're delighted they're recognising.

"The award is about celebrating developments that bring waterways back to life, which is what our work with the Canal and River Trust is about.

"We were delighted to be nominated for the award.

"It's just been brilliant to recognised for something that we've been able to use our expertise and skills on, for that level of work."

The project was to create a lake and nature reserve at Aston Nature Reserves, which provides quality habitats as well as an open space for walkers.

The nature reserve is sited adjacent to the Montgomery Canal restoration; a project which has been on-going since 1969 and includes many Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

At the reserves, the company created balancing ponds near the canal, upgrading site access as well as installing reed beds where possible.