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 included on the Government-run National Grid for Learning's (NGfL) site, at www.ngfl.gov.uk

Websites are only accepted on to the NGfL site if they meet strict quality criteria, which include measures on Internet safety and ensuring that disabled people 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 link to the NGfL site.

Durham's learning section contains information on topics such as schools in the area, childcare, support for governors, lifelong learning and education in the community, and has a link to the North-East England CourseFinder.

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 site was launched in November 1998 as part of a Government's education initiative.