STAFF at Worcestershire County Council are celebrating after the authority was ranked as "excellent" for the first time.

A provisional rating, released in August, put the authority at "good" - one below the top level.

But inspectors from the Audit Commission paid a flying visit to County Hall last month and have now decided to review their judgement.

"This is great news for Worcestershire," said leader of the council, Coun George Lord.

"That we have been rated excellent is down to the hard work of all staff and councillors of all parties, who have voted unanimously for the budgets that have allowed us to get to this stage. This is the way a council should be run."

"We're absolutely delighted to have been given an 'excellent' rating and it's testament to the hard work of all concerned. The Audit Commission has told us we're doing the right things in the right way," added chief executive Rob Sykes.

"We know that we don't get everything 100 per cent right, but our aim is to continue to improve and the Audit Commission are saying we are one of the best councils in the country."

The Audit Commission said the authority had made "significant improvements" in education, social services and environment services over the last year.

"Based on Worcestershire County Council's plans, it is well placed to continue to improve the way it works and the services it provides to local people," added its report, published this morning.

Worcester's Labour MP Mike Foster praised work by council staff for making the council one of only 41 "excellent" county councils or unitary authorities in the country.

"Despite criticisms of too many targets set by Government, such a process has encouraged reform and it is the people of the county who will benefit," he said.

"Of course, there are still real challenges out there, and matters that will test the county council.

"But they will not want to lose their newly-acquired status and I will continue to work with them on issues such as funding."