A COUNCIL'S website is the best local authority internet site in East Lancashire, says an independent league table.

Since Rossendale Council's website was re-launched in August 2005, residents have been able to use it to apply for a job with the council, submit a planning application and pay council tax.

They can now also use a benefits calculator to find out how much they might be entitled to in housing and council tax benefit.

The improvements caused the council to surge ahead of other East Lancashire councils in the national chart produced by Sitemorse, a website evaluation company.

Rossendale Council's site is 90th in the country out of 460, rising 79 places in a year.

Coun Janet Farquharson, portfolio holder for customer services and e-Government said: "This is more evidence of the improvements we are making for local people."