PARKS and leisure centres run by Worcester City Council have been given a pat on the back after a new report from the Audit Commission classed the facilities on offer as "good" for the first time ever.

It has awarded its cultural services department two out of three stars - and say facilities such as Perdiswell Skate Park and the King George V playing fields in Brickfields have "proved successful".

It is the first time the Audit Commission has rated the services so highly, and comes after a concerted effort on behalf of the council to work with the voluntary industry.

The report said that the leisure centres were "well-maintained" and highlighted the work the council has done with young people.

The cultural services dep-artment also deals with issues ranging from tourism to museums, and was responsible for taking back control of Warndon Community Centre earlier this year after allegations of bullying against staff. Worcester City Council leader Coun Simon Geraghty said: "This is excellent news for the city council and I congratulate those dedicated staff involved in the delivery of cultural services in particular. It is reassuring for the public that the city council is not only providing very good services in this area but that it has improving prospects."

The department spends about £5m every year on museums and galleries, parks, leisure centres, community development and the arts. The report said the council has a "track record" of organising major events such as the Victorian Christmas Fayre and Worcester Festival.

Alan Stuttard, who heads the community department, said: "The great news for us is that they say the services are good and are likely to improve further.

"The report from the Audit Commission recognises that we are working very closely with the voluntary sector and highlights that we are moving in the right direction."

The Audit Commission rates services in four different categories - no stars, one star, two stars or three stars.

The last time the council's department was looked at, it received one star and was described as "fair" in 2002.

A spokeswoman for the Audit Commission said: "Worcester provides a wide range of services for local people. In its work with young people, facilities such as Perdiswell Skate Park have proved successful, as have improvements to the King George V park."