THE leisure centres in the Hambleton area of North Yorkshire are among the best in the country - and that's official.

The district council has been awarded the "top performing organisation" title in the annual awards run by the national quality scheme for leisure facilities, Quest.

Quest is commissioned by Sport England to assess the quality of leisure centres through a rigorous inspection programme that includes all aspects of leisure centre operations.

The Bedale, Northallerton and Thirsk leisure centres were all rated "excellent" after their assessments last year, with the Stokesley centre achieving "very good".

Hambleton's cabinet member for leisure Cllr Bridget Fortune said: "We are delighted by this fantastic achievement."