COURT staff in Rawtenstall are among the best in the country, according to judges who awarded them a prestigious prize at a national ceremony.

Staff at Rawtenstall Magistrates Court were presented with the Charter Mark accolade for their excellence in customer service.

Representatives from the small Rossendale court attended the event, held at Old Chelsea Town Hall in London.

The Charter Mark is a Government-backed award which recognises excellent standards in customer service.

Sir Ronald De Witt, chief executive of Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS), presented the awards to more than 70 courts and specialist teams at the Recognising Outstanding Achievement Awards.

Rawtenstall Magistrates Court was the only East Lancashire court to scoop the honour.

It was among just 10 other courts across the whole of the North West to achieve the accolade. The others are at Chester, Barrow, Blackpool, Penrith, Southport, St Helens, Stockport, Whitehaven, and Warrington.

Jim McGowan, vice-chairman of the bench at Rawtenstall, said: "I am very, very pleased at this news.

"It's a well-deserved award. All the staff work extremely hard to ensure a good service is provided to the public at Rawtenstall. It's nice to know that it's being recognised."

Congratulating the winners, Sir Ronald De Witt said: "This is an outstanding achievement for Her Majesty's Courts Service. I am delighted we have achieved something so special.

"Delivering customer service excellence is central to the work of HMCS, and the Charter Mark criteria echo our own key objectives as an organisation.

"The 73 Charter Marks I have presented demonstrate how seriously HMCS is committed to providing excellence in customer service delivery.

"Together with those who have already achieved the old Charter Mark Award, HMCS is leading the way in improving customer service and being role models for others to follow."