The green and good of Sussex gathered last night to celebrate the first Argus Eco-Awards.

Eight awards were handed out to honour those individuals and organisations who showed an exceptional commitment towards cleaner, more responsible living.

After an aerial performance from the Brighton Youth Circus, eco-designer, writer and television presenter Oliver Heath, who hosted the evening at the Old Market, Hove, addressed the audience.

He said: “I feel this is such a worthwhile and deserving evening, where members of the community can gain recognition for the work they do to make the world a better place for everyone.”

The green project award, sponsored by Brighton restaurant Due South, went to the Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project, for creating a tranquil haven in a deprived area of the city and educating the community about the benefits of ecologically sound living.

The next award, for the greenest household, went to Paul Early, for his £20,000 renovation of his terraced Hanover house.

The third award of the evening was for green building design. It went to One Brighton in the New England Quarter, behind Brighton station, largely hailed as the most sustainable development in Britain.

This was followed by the young environmentalist, sponsored by Legal & General. The winner was Henry Langridge, a Year 6 pupil at Albourne School in Hassocks, who regularly gives up his time to work on environmental projects and raise money for the less well-off.

The fifth category was the best green campaign, sponsored by Barefoot wine, and the winner was the 3rd Age @ BPEC, a project set up by Brighton Peace and Environment Centre to educate older people about sustainability, while combating the isolation many of them experience.

The green school award was sponsored by EDF Energy and won by Hertford Infant and Nursery School, Hertford Road, Brighton, which was described as “an amazing school with an amazing headteacher that is continuously progressing forwards with its environmental campaigns and changing the way the children see and care for the world.”

The sixth award, sponsored by Neilson Active Holidays, was the green business award, and was won by Greenmop, an environmentally-friendly cleaning company.

The final award, sponsored by Churchill Square, was for the green champion and was awarded to Richard Mehmed from the Wood Recycling Project. Ten years ago, Richard gave up a lucrative career to launch a social enterprise, diverting hundreds of tonnes of wood from landfill every year.