Awards entry level doubles.

More than 40 buildings ranging from schools to houses and from cricket clubs to water treatment works, have been entered for top architecture awards.

The entry level Hadrian Awards 2005 is more than double that of the previous Awards in 2003.

Graham Bell, director of the North of England Civic Trust and chairman of the Hadrian Awards, said: "The entry level is gratifying. We made it less onerous for practices to enter this year and they have responded positively. There is a wide range of building types entered with projects ranging in value from pounds 13,000 to pounds 40m. While almost half the projects are in Newcastle there is a good geographical spread of entries from Alnmouth in the north to Gainford in the south, with a number in rural areas."

All the entries are being posted on Northern Architecture's website: www.northern architecture.com.

Members of the public can nominate their favourite.

Shortlisting will take place at the end of February. The winners will be announced at the start of Architecture Week on June 17.

The biennial Hadrian Awards are organised by the regional office of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Northern Architecture and the North of England Civic Trust. This year they are open to architects from outside the region who have undertaken commissions in the North-East.