A PIONEERING website has helped a council department gain its second excellence award.

The Government's Charter Mark has again been given to Sunderland City Council's building control service for its continued pursuit of excellence in services.

Its efforts have included the introduction of a website, www.submit-a-plan.com, which is being adopted as a national model.

The site allows people to send in planning applications by e-mail. People can also check up on the stage their application has reached in the planning process.

With a team including 11 chartered surveyors, the building control service is responsible for protecting the health, safety and welfare of Sunderland's residents by ensuring that building regulations are followed.

The service's manager, Ken Scott, said the award recognised the efforts of all his staff, adding: " The inspector was particularly impressed by our commercial partnerships with the construction industry to expand the influence of our service beyond the boundaries of the city."