DURHAM County Council has won national recognition for the education information on its website.

The learning section of the site (www.durham.gov.uk) has been accepted on to the Government-run National Grid for Learning's portal (www.ngfl.gov.uk).

Websites are only accepted on the NGfL portal if they meet strict quality criteria, which include following best practice on Internet safety and ensuring that the disabled can access the information.

Once a site meets the requirements, and contains material that could be used by teachers, students, parents or adult learners, it is allowed to display the NGfL badge.

Durham's learning section contains information on topics including schools in the area, childcare, support for governors, life-long learning and education in the community, and has a link to the North-East England Course Finder.

Keith Mitchell, the council's education director, said: "Having our site recognised in this way will help more people find out about the range of education opportunities in the county."

NGfL content manager Ceris Bergen said: "We are building up a mass of resources useful to everybody involved in learning, formal or informal, and Durham County Council's learning section is a valuable addition to the fold.

The NGfL portal was launched in November 1998 as part of the Government's National Grid for Learning strategy to encourage "connected learning".