THE team charged with sprucing up and maintaining Darlington's parks is celebrating a Government accolade.

The borough council's gardening team has been awarded a Charter Mark award for excellence in customer service.

Eighty people carry out work in cemeteries, parks, open spaces, schools and highways throughout the borough.

Their duties include grass cutting, floral displays, tree and shrub maintenance and litter collection.

Independent assessors visited the council to examine all aspects of the service's customer care.

The judges were particularly impressed with information available telling customers about the services and the way users of the service are encouraged to suggest improvements.

Terry Collins, the council's assistant director for environmental Services, said: "We are thrilled to receive a Charter Mark - it's great to see the work we have done to provide a high level of customer service recognised nationally.

"We have a really good team that values its customers and recognises the important role that customers play in helping us to continually improve our services."