TWO outstanding Warrington teachers have won prestigious regional teaching awards and a third has received a special commendation.

Ann Langton, from Dallam Community Primary School, and Woolston Community Primary School's Gemma Berry were presented with the Award for Excellence in Special Needs Teaching and the Award for Outstanding New Teacher respectively.

And Gemma's colleague Jeanette Westhead, who is assistant head teacher at Woolston, got a special commendation in the category for school leadership.

Staff at the Dallam school said they all supported Ann's nomination and head teacher at Woolston David Hudson said Jeanette and Gemma are both outstanding professionals.

Ian Kane, chairman of the awards panel of representatives from across education in the north west, said: "This year has seen a record number of nominations with some categories overflowing.

"And the quality of nominations has risen with the quantity."

The regional winners were announced at an awards ceremony in Liverpool yesterday, Wednesday, with each winner receiving a £2,000 grant for their schools, £1,000 worth of ICT equipment and an invitation to the national final in October, which will be screened on BBC One in November.