SIX Southampton parks have been named as some of the UK's best following a record-breaking year.

Central Parks, St James’ Park, Portswood Rec, Riverside Park, Freemantle Lake Park, and Town Quay Park have all received a Green Flag Award this year.

The accolade is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Freemantle Lake Park and Town Quay Park received the award for the first time.

READ MORE: Southampton's best and worst GP surgeries according to patients

This year, 2,208 parks and green spaces across the UK have received the title - the largest number since the scheme began 26 years ago - which sees parks in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland meet the international quality standard.

Cllr Lisa Mitchell, said: “It’s fantastic to add Town Quay Park and Freemantle Lake Park to the list of our Green Flag Award winning parks.

"The flags recognise the hard work of staff, volunteers, Friends Groups and community groups who look after them and I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of those involved in making our parks and open spaces great places all year round.

"We want to make sure that the quality of these parks is the norm across the city and that people have access to brilliant open spaces wherever they live.”

READ MORE: Roller Disco lands in Southampton this summer

Keep Britain Tidy’s accreditation manager Paul Todd added: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making these parks in Southampton worthy of a Green Flag Award.

"This award is testament to all the hard work of staff and volunteers, who do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the UK and around the world.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News