A LOCAL authority website has made the top 20 in a national survey.

According to the Society of Information Technology Management's Better Connected 2002 survey, Durham County Council's website is among the best of those by more than 450 local authorities.

The rating marks the second time that www.durham.gov.uk has featured in the top 20 and identifies it as the best North-East council site.

The website was praised for its sections for young people and older people, as well as its community leadership, usability, innovation and accessibility.

A delighted Ruth Harmer, the county council's web manager, said: "The next step for us is to become a transactional site, with more online services, and already we are looking at ways of achieving this and developing the site further."