EQUALITY and diversity work by Durham County Council has been praised as some of the best in the country.

The authority was one of only six authorities to take part in a pilot to be assessed for the Equality Standard for Local Government. A two-day inspection found "positive progress" was being made.

Councillor Dennis Morgan, cabinet member for organisational change and improvement, said: "At the end of the assessment, the team said we should be proud of all our activities. It's been a robust test and we have been deemed to be one of the best pilot authorities."

Work on equality has included a conference to raise awareness of the new Disability Discrimination Act.