ON-STREET electronic information kiosks, outlining council services, could land a North-East local authority consortium a leading award next month.

Fifty of the kiosks are dotted around the region, allowing people to use touch-screen and keyboard technology to access council services.

Among the first seven to go into use were at information access points in Front Street, Hetton-le-Hole, in Newbottle Street, in neighbouring Houghton-le-Spring, and at the Galleries shopping centre, in Washington.

All were successfully introduced by Sunderland City Council with upwards of 50 people a day said to be using them.

It is part of the city's Peoplefirst programme to aid public access to council services.

Such has been the success that Sunderland and other councils in the Tyne and Wear ICT Partnership have won national recognition.

Along with suppliers Connect Internet Solutions and Cityspace they have been short-listed in the final of the inaugural e-Government National Awards.

The competition, backed by the Cabinet Office and sponsored by information technology company Intel, aims to recognise technological advances in supplying public services.

Sunderland council chief executive Ged Fitzgerald said: "The kiosks provide a valuable role by offering people round-the-clock access to a whole range of useful information and services.

"I'm delighted to see they are being so well used."

Winning finalists in the e-Government National Awards will be announced at a gala award ceremony, in London, on January 19.