Chief executive George Krawiec said it filled him with pride

Last year government watchdog the Audit Commission rated North East Lincolnshire Council at the bottom of England's local authorities.

Now the local authority for Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham has jumped from a zero star rating to two stars and is praised for "improving well."

Hull City Council, which only scored one star, has gone up to two stars.

North Yorkshire County Council also went up from three to four stars.

However, Leeds City Council has dropped back a star to three stars.

'Stable leadership'

Barnsley, Calderdale, Doncaster, Bradford, Kirklees and Rotherham metropolitan borough and district councils all achieved three stars - the same as last year.

Sheffield City Council retained its top four-star rating, while Wakefield Metropolitan District Council also stayed the same on two stars.

Other councils that received the same results as last year were the City of York Council and the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which got three stars each.

The latest scores mean that 80% of the region's councils now appear in the commission's top two ratings and for the first time there are no authorities in the bottom two categories.

Audit Commission chiefs said that North East Lincolnshire Council now had "stable political and managerial leadership".

'Immense pride'

Council bosses had previously said they would step down if their rating did not improve.

Chief executive George Krawiec said: "It fills me with immense pride and satisfaction now to say that we have indeed achieved not one, but two stars.

"While we feel this is a major turning point for the council, we are still not satisfied and this will not mark the end of our improvements as we are more determined than ever before to continue striving to become a better authority."