A KINMEL Bay holiday park is the first in North Wales to receive the fastest growing international environment award.

The Sunnyvale Caravan Park has become the first business of its type in the region to be awarded a Green Key award for its work engaging holiday makers in keeping the area clean and tidy.

The business now joins 3,000 businesses in 57 countries - including the first recipient in 2016 the Anglesey Sea Zoo - in achieving he leading standard for excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation.

Aaron Scantlebury, general manager at Sunnyvale Caravan Park, said: “We are thrilled to be the first holiday park in North Wales to achieve the award, which marks another step on our green journey.”

To earn the award, the business has had to adopt a number of environmentally friendly practices including setting up regular beach cleans, reducing water use in its showers, using eco-friendly toilet roll, launching a free tap water refill service and selling locally sourced and sustainable goods on the park.

To retain the award - which in Wales is operated by Blue Flag organisers Keep Wales Tidy - the business also has to commit to improve it’s eco credentials by five percent each year.

To celebrate, the park held their third beach clean on Saturday, July 27 bringing together ‘Sunnyvalers’, staff and owners for a litter pick supported by staff from the nearby Asda on St Asaph Avenue.

Pauline Vella, Green Key Officer for North Wales said: “It is great to see Sunnyvale Holiday Park embracing sustainability, the first in the region to do so.

“We all have a responsibility to look after our environment, even whilst on holiday, so it is fantastic for visitors to Sunnyvale to be assured that by choosing this destination they are making a positive difference.

“We hope that other parks in the area take steps in the same direction.”