HALTON Council's registration service has scooped up five awards at a national ceremony.

Deputy registrar general Andrew Dent presented registration officers Karen Jackman and Anita Naughton with certificates for completing the Nationally Accredited Programme for registrars at the event in Manchester.

This is a City and Guilds level five award and requires up to two years of studying to achieve.

Next to be presented with a certificate was senior registration officer Christine Ditchfield for her work in assessing students undertaking the exam.

Then registration service manager Andrew Lucas was called and presented with a certificate for his work as a verifier of the award.

For the most prestigious event of the evening, Outstanding Individual Performance or Contribution Award was handed to Christine Ditchfield who fought off fierce competition from 174 registration districts.

Christine was nominated by many of the North West Registration service managers for her work and dedication as a North West training officer.

Judges said she championed excellence in the service performance in constructive and encouraging ways, challenging existing working methods to make improvements that meet statutory service requirements within Local Authority financial constraints.

Superintendent registrar and service manager, Andrew Lucas, said: "I am immensely proud of the Registration Team here at Halton, everyone endeavours to give the public the best possible service at some of the most emotional times in their lives.