A DISTRICT council customer service team has been recognised for its excellent service.

Richmondshire District Council has been awarded corporate Customer Service Excellence status though a Government-led scheme for the second year running.

The independent assessor acknowledged that the joining of shared services with Hambleton District Council - and the following review that has returned many services to a single service delivery - has proved to be a difficult time.

But despite the changes the staff at Richmondshire pulled together to ensure the quality of services delivered to customers has not been affected.

Richmondshire District Council managing director Tony Clark said: “This is great news.

“At a time of great change we have maintained and improved services – staff have once again pulled out all the stops to ensure that our residents continued to receive excellent customer service.”