A Bolton Council worker has become the first town hall employee in the country to win a prestigious customer service award for her services to the public.

Julie Sandiford, customer services manager in the council's environmental management unit, won the top award competing against up to 500 people from organisations throughout the UK.

The Bolton Council boss received the Customer Services Professional of the Year award this week in a ceremony at London's Hilton Hotel.

She won the Customer Services Institute award for her leadership and commitment to the provision of customer care, solving problems, and identifying improvements the council's environmental management unit could introduce to ensure the department delivers a better service for the public.

The customer services team in the environmental unit at the town hall deal with a wide range of complaints from the public ranging from flooding, the clearance of snow, gritting, refuse collection, highway maintenance and even the removal of hypodermic needles.

Cllr Guy Harkin, executive member for environment, said: "Julie's achievement as the first public sector employee to win this award is a great accomplishment and highlights the strong role she and her team play in meeting our customers' needs. It is a credit to the whole department."

Cllr Rosa Kay, executive member for human resources, added that the award highlighted the council's commitment to training.

She added: "By working with our staff we can ensure that training requirements meet their needs and the needs of the department and our customers. I would like to congratulate Julie on the award."