COUNCIL chiefs are celebrating after an Audit Commission inspection gave their housing and social care services top marks.

The council's housing service has improved its overall performance rating during the past 12 months from three stars in 2005 to a maximum of four stars for 2006 after being probed by the Audit Commission and the Commission for Social Care.

The area's of improvement include homelessness, repairs and the energy effeciency of its housing.

Linda Sanders, director of adult, community and housing services, said: "I'm delighted that we have improved our rating for Housing Services during the past year and that we've also improved our care services for vulnerable adults."