Stockton Borough Council's website has been named best in the area.

The website, www.stockton.gov.uk, one of the first to offer users fully-automated access to services, was given the award at the Tees Valley Business Awards 2004.

Residents can report problems online relating to refuse collection, recycling and removing bulky household items such as fridges and furniture. A programme called Flare automatically connects the customer's request to the work management system, which prioritises it and generates a job sheet.

This is collected by council workers, who carry out the job, providing residents with a speedier and more efficient response.

The website has more than 14,000 pages and features a growing number of application forms and online services. An average of 2,000 people use it every day.

Councillor David Coleman, the authority's deputy leader, said: "It is a great honour to receive this award and I am delighted the efforts of our staff to implement electronic government have been rewarded.

"By offering our services electronically, anyone can access them 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It gives people a choice and makes services more convenient for many people."