LINKS forged over almost half-a-century with a county's continental cousins has brought a leading European accolade to the North-East.

Durham County Council was one of only six winners of this year's Council of Europe Plaque of Honour, announced in Denmark in May.

The Council of Europe is the oldest cross-continental institution, founded as a platform for social and cultural co-operation between the now 44 member countries, in 1949.

Durham, the UK's only local authority to win a 2002 Europe Prize, earned the award for its "outstanding international links", which now see numerous parties from the county visiting or hosting similar parties in eight partner towns, cities and regions, in seven European countries each year.

The award was presented to county council chairman Charles Magee at a ceremony staged at County Hall yesterday (TUE).

Former Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly member, ex-Swedish MP Kerstin Ekman handed over the prestigious prize, an engraved glass plaque bearing a map of Europe with a cross centred on Durham.

Mrs Ekman said the judges were highly impressed with the county council's efforts to foster friendship with diverse communities across Europe.

"The award committee was immediately attracted to Durham by its unstinting commitment to Europe.

"It is exemplary with twinning and co-operation with eight European twins."

Councillor Magee said the county's international links stretch back to 1953.

"We've expanded our international family over the years. It's now grown to nine, eight in Europe and one twin in north America."