Exmouth Town Council has been awarded the Quality Award level of the Local Council Award Scheme, which recognises good practice in governance, community engagement, and council improvement.

The award scheme was designed by the National Association of Local Councils to provide a framework in which local councils can improve.

Exmouth Town Council is now one of just seven town or parish councils in Devon that hold the award.

Councillor Steve Gazzard, Chairman of Exmouth Town Council, said: "This is a huge recognition of the hard work the council strives towards in achieving good governance and policies.

"We are extremely proud in gaining this award and I would like to thank all our staff and councillors who have worked towards us achieving this recognition."

Contributing factors to Exmouth Town Council receiving the award included its efforts to increase awareness and transparency of its activities online, its engagement in the community with groups such as Transition Exmouth, and its promotion of local recycling through its bicycle reuse scheme in collaboration with Exeter-based Ride On.

It is also currently supporting the crowdfunded Beach