Two PCSOs who created a summer event to reduce anti-social behaviour in local towns including Sandbach and Alsager have been honoured in Cheshire Constabulary's annual awards.

PCSOs Tom Faulkner and Scott Watson from Congleton Local Policing Unit, which covers both towns, received PCSO of the Year for their work on the 'Cross Country Games'.

The two were honoured at Cheshire Constabulary's annual ACE (Achieving Cheshire Excellence) Awards at Rookery Hall Hotel and Spa at the event presented by ITV weather presenter Emma Jesson.

The Cross Country Games have helped to significantly reduce anti-social behaviour across Sandbach, Alsager, Congleton, Middlewich, Holmes Chapel and Crewe by between 43 per cent and 56 per cent.

An ACE Award is the highest accolades that can be awarded to an individual or team that has gone that extra mile or demonstrated exceptional commitment to policing in Cheshire.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts said: "The ACE Awards give us the chance to highlight and celebrate the outstanding work of individuals and teams across the Constabulary, and we have once again seen the exceptional hard work and dedication of our officers and colleagues in this year's nominations.

"We have made huge progress as a force during the past 12-months as we strive to achieve our mission of delivering even safer communities for the whole of Cheshire whilst making the county a hostile place for criminals."

Moving on from last year's Salt Wars, the Cross Country Games was expanded to include a selection of games to include everything from playing handball and 'pirate ship' to singing and dancing as well as the usual football and rugby matches and even a trip to Manchester United's ground.

A police spokesperson said: "PCSOs Tom Faulkner and Scott Watson have worked tirelessly to develop the 'Cross County Games'.

"This has helped to significantly reduce anti-social behaviour incidents, by improving the relationship between local policing and youngsters aged between 10 and 16.

"Over 400 have attended eight events held in the past year, with a reduction in reported ASB incidents of between 43 per cent and 56 per cent.

"Tom and Scott have shown exceptional dedication to this project, in addition to the daily role they perform as PCSOs."

PCSO Watson said: "We all know boredom creates problems. If there's nothing to do, you find something to do, and sometimes judgement goes out of the window and we see anti-social behaviour affecting our communities.

"As a result of our team and our partner agencies' hard work over this year and previous years, we have seen the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour decrease."