A COUNCIL chief executive today had breakfast with the Prime Minister at an event to celebrate excellence in local government.

Phil Watson, from Blackburn with Darwen Council, was invited to 10 Downing Street, followingthe council's success in the Council of the Year awards and last November's 'excellent' rating in Government inspections.

Also present were representatives of the other councils judged to be "excellent" by the independent Audit Commission together with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who has overall responsibility for local government, and the chairman of the Local Government Association, Sir Jeremy Beecham.

Blackburn with Darwen is one of 22 councils to have been classed as 'excellent' by the independent Audit Commission.

Mr Watson said: "It is a great honour to be recognised in this way and the meeting with the Prime Minister underlines the degree to which the government sees the importance of local government in delivering high quality public services, both directly and in partnership with others."