A RIVER campaigner from Billington has been named a ‘digital champion’ at an awards ceremony at the House of Commons.

Catherine Birtwistle was named as North West regional winner at the TalkTalk Digital Heroes Awards.

Catherine, who works alongside the Ribble Rivers Trust on the Ribble Life project, which explores ways of engaging with people to help improve the water environment was given a £5,000 grant for her project.

The countrywide scheme recognises people who ‘harness technology to bring about positive social change’.

One of the ideas to come out of Catherine’s project has been the Ribble Way QR Trail, which would allow anyone with a smartphone to access information about the river as they walk the Ribble Way.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who attended the ceremony, said: “The hard work Catherine does is admirable and inspiring.

“Technology and the digital revolution can be harnessed as a force for good, for education and for bringing people and passions together.

“Catherine’s project represents all of those ambitions and I sincerely hope that this funding helps her to achieve those goals.”