The Business Environmental Challenge is offering prizes totalling £3,000 to winning enterprises. Firms must employ no more than 50 people to be eligible to enter.

The contest, organised by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, is now in its fourth year.

Councillor Eddie Connor said:

"Being environmentally friendly can actually improve the profitability of businesses. This can include recycling waste products such as paper and card, to keep them from landfill, using double sided printers, to halve your paper bill and simply turning off lights and equipment when they are not in use.

"Businesses can also landscape around their premises to encourage wildlife, any little change will benefit the environment in some way."