Hundreds of street champions cheered the winners and finalists in the Streets Ahead Awards 2012 at the Winter Gardens.

Children arrived in party outfits or in school uniforms, while adults chatted with others from different communities about their grand plans.

As the awards were announced more than 200 guests stamped their feet for the Glasgow drumroll.

Finalists in the best community garden section, the Back 2 Front Street Club, said they were "excited" to be at the awards. They created a garden as a memorial after the deaths of 10 local people over three years devastated their small Easterhouse community.

The group – Kara Leonard, Megan Leslie, Chloe Thomson, all 10, Mirren Wright, 7, Amber Benson, 14, and Amber Malyn, 12, – planted flowers and vegetables, and have been "making the garden look nice".

Craigton Residents Action Group, who transformed an overgrown area next to Barlogan Avenue into a meeting place, were finalists in the same category. Group member Robert Brown, 39, said: "It makes you realise how many other people are doing things."

Glasgow Housing Association's community janitors were finalists in the best clean-up campaign category. Supervisor coordinator Mitchell Crombie, said: "It is a pleasure to work with the team, they are fantastic."

Also finalists for the best clean-up award were ReForm G43, people from Eastwood, Pollokshaws and Shawbridge, who hold regular clean-ups. Peter Bole, 66, of Pollokshaws, said they were "chuffed" to be nominated.

North Kelvin Meadow, a group campaigning about the development of playing fields in the West End, and The Arc, a community hub in Milton, were finalists in the best environmental initiative category.

North Kelvin Meadow member David Peacock, 27, said: "It is good to celebrate what people are doing in Glasgow."

Joseph Moffat, 28, from Castlemilk, said The Arc was "delighted" to be nominated. Sarti in Bath Street was a finalist in the green Glasgow business awards for waste control.

Carina Capurro, 18, fromthe restaurant, said: "It is an honour to be recognised."

Margaret Greig, from Drumchapel, was "stunned" to be a finalist in the best garden category. The 54-year-old said: "It is a real treat to be here."

Also a finalist for her garden, in Provanhill, was Karen McCoy, 38, who said: "Streets Ahead is a really positive campaign for the city."

Urban Roots, who organise a Blossom Festival in Toryglen, as well as working on environmentally friendly initiatives, were best community initiative finalists.

PATRICK Holland, 34, said the group were "very happy" to be nominated, adding: "It is nice to be recognised for the hard work."

Also nominated in the same category were Govan Together, a group of residents and organisations which holds events, and Friends of Kelvingrove Square, which transformed a derelict plot of land into a community garden.

Liz Gardiner, 55, from Govan Together, said: "It is wonderful seeing these residents from different communities getting together in this prestigious location."

Elspeth Lamb, from Friends of Kelvingrove Square, said: "We are ecstatic to be nominated."

Beechwood Nursery in Easterhouse and the Health Hawks at John Paul II Primary in Castlemilk were finalists in the school award.

The children at Beechwood Nursery helped to clear litter from disused land to create a community space and Health Hawks clean up their local area. Lorraine Glendinning, 42, from Beechwood Nursery, said: "Streets Ahead seems to be making a big impact."

Tony Donaghy, principal teacher at John Paul II Primary, praised his pupils, saying: "It is a good campaign because it promotes everything positive about Glasgow."

Council leader Gordon Matheson said enter-tainers city dance troupe Dance UK "were inspiring"