And now – instead of being praised for improving well – Hartlepool Borough Council has been officially recorded as "improving strongly".

Out of more than 100 single-tier councils nationwide, Hartlepool is one of only 12 to be awarded four stars and "improving strongly" status.

The change in status comes after council chiefs challenged the assessment carried out by the Audit Commission which is the Government's watchdog body.

Earlier this year, the commission awarded the authority four stars.

It is the highest ranking under the commission's comprehensive performance assessment and the report also said it was "improving well".

But Hartlepool Borough Council challenged the "improving well" status, believing that it should be "improving strongly".

Chief executive Paul Walker said: "When the original assessment of improving well was published we felt there was justification to challenge this, and we are delighted that the commission has now acknowledged Hartlepool as an 'improving strongly' council.

"It is through hard work and commitment that we have managed to achieve this top ranking and everyone associated with the council should be very proud indeed."

In a letter to Mr Walker, Audit Commission regional director Mark Fletcher said: "I have considered the findings and recommendations of the review and have concluded that your direction of travel score should increase to improving strongly."

Key reasons given by the commission were the council's performance compared to other improving strongly councils and its efforts to increase the numbers of those involved in either education, employment or training.

Before granting performance ratings, the commission looks at the progress councils have made in the past year, how they are run and whether they are providing value for money.