The team at Bradgate Park have scooped a national award for their work in protecting and enhancing the iconic Leicestershire open space.

Keep Britain Tidy's Green Flag Award 'Best of the Best' category celebrates the volunteers, park staff and groups behind the success of park.

With more than 750,000 visitors per year, Bradgate Park is one of Leicestershire's best-loved attractions and is home to a wild and rugged landscape for the whole family to enjoy.

The park was given to the people of Leicestershire by landowner Charles Bennion in the 1920s to be run in trust. The attraction near Newtown Linford was the first in Leicestershire to secure a Green Heritage Site status last year and already has Green Flag Award under its belt too.

Run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and accredits high-quality and well-managed green spaces.

Director of Bradgate Park Trust, James Dymond, said: "For the team to be recognised as the 'Best of the Best' truly shows how I, and I'm sure, many others feel about the upkeep, maintenance and activity at Bradgate Park.

"It's a real testament to the hard work and dedication from every person in our teams, from rangers right through to volunteers, who all endeavour to bring history to life and make the park a green space that everyone can enjoy.

"Being accredited a Green Heritage Site alongside the Green Flag Award last year, and being given National Nature Reserve status this year were big honours for us, and this additional accolade really underpins the commitment and care that our team gives to keep Bradgate in prime condition as one of Leicestershire's most popular parks."

Nominations were received from across the UK and Bradgate Park's team was selected alongside Wirral Country Park-based rangers as joint best team.

Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, vice chair of the Bradgate Park Trust, said: "This is excellent news. On behalf of the board of trustees. I'm very proud that Bradgate Park will now fly this special 'Best of the Best' Green Flag award, recognising the hard work and dedication of the volunteers, staff and groups that help make Bradgate Park such a special place to visit.

"Whatever the time of year, a visit to Bradgate Park is a wonderful day out and I hope this latest award will encourage even more people to discover its natural beauty for themselves."

A key achievement this year for Bradgate Park was being given a National Nature Reserve (NNR) status from Natural England as part of the King's Series of National Nature Reserves announced in May.

This accolade, alongside the latest achievement for the team from Green Flag Awards, demonstrates all the work that goes into maintaining this green space that is of national importance for its fauna, flora and geology.

Green Flag Award manager Paul Todd MBE said: "The best of best awards is our way of honouring all the hard work done by the thousands of parks staff and volunteers up and down the country who work tirelessly to make their parks and green spaces fantastic places that everyone can enjoy.

"Our Best of the Best winners represent some of the UK's hardest working individuals and groups working within our highest quality parks.

"We want to say a huge congratulations to them."