A NUMBER of councils in the region have won awards from the Government for the quality of their public services.

Six authorities in the North-East and North Yorkshire will now receive a share of £5m as a reward for promoting best practice.

Councils are invited to apply each year for Beacon awards under a scheme introduced in 1999 that aims to identify excellence in local government.

A total of 58 awards are being presented to 54 authorities which can claim Beacon status in several categories. They are judged by an independent advisory panel that makes recommendations to ministers.

Themes for the awards include raising standards in education, ensuring quality of access to information, services and jobs and promoting good quality construction through safety and efficiency.

In the North-East, Derwentside Borough Council and Sunderland City Council were given Beacon awards in the category Social Inclusion Through Information Communication Technology.

Darlington Borough Council won an award in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services category.

Middlesbrough Council and Stockton Borough Council won awards in the Rethinking Construction category.

Richmondshire District Council was recognised in the category Supporting the Rural Economy.

Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford said: "A Beacon award marks an authority's achievement and recognises the hard work of the staff at the front line of delivering services.

"But just as importantly, the new Beacons will help other authorities learn from their experience so that authorities across the country might provide services that meet the standards of the best."