A NORTH-EAST council has been shortlisted for a national award.

Stockton Borough Council is in the running to become council of the year in the annual competition run by the magazine Local Government Chronicle.

The council has also been shortlisted for an award in the categories of finance team of the year and management team of the year for service to Stockton.

More than 300 councils nationwide are eligible for the competition. The overall winner, to be announced in London in March, will have demonstrated a level of excellence and quality across its work.

All shortlisted finalists will be assessed during a visit by judges in the next few weeks.

Council leader councillor Bob Gibson said: "It is clearly great news for everyone involved in the council, and that means local people just as much as the hard-working employees and councillors."