SIX North-East councils have been praised by the Government for their delivery of public services.

They have been awarded Beacon status for excellence and ground-breaking work in areas including regeneration of neighbourhoods, tackling fuel poverty, provision of libraries, legal services and adoption.

Three of the councils have been given Beacon status for the first time - Darlington for community legal services, Middlesbrough for neighbourhood renewal and Blyth Valley, Northumberland, for tackling fuel poverty.

Awards were given again to Stockton and Sunderland councils for their promotion of libraries, and to Gateshead for its adoption services.

They were among 46 English councils given Beacon status by Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford.

He said: ''The Beacon councils selected lead the way in delivering some of the key services that make a real difference to the quality of life in local communities.

''Gaining a Beacon award is not just a way of marking a council's achievements. It is also a recognition of the hard work of all the staff who are at the front line of delivering services."