County archive performance boost

Suffolk's county archives have seen a major improvement over the last year, a national watchdog has found.

The county council's Record Office has gone from two stars (good) to four stars (excellent) according to The National Archives.

The ratings boost follows £400,000 investment on safety measures to protect the records and archives.

The council's portfolio holder for culture, Lisa Chambers, paid tribute to the "excellent service" provided.

"Here in Suffolk we always knew our record office was a hidden gem and now it has been recognised nationally," she said.

"The result is a tribute to the commitment and work of our highly trained staff as well as the army of dedicated volunteers."