SATISFACTION with the work of Stroud District Council has grown in the last year, placing the authority in the top 14 per cent in the country.

A survey of households in the district reported that 69 per cent were satisfied with the council service and 60 per cent thought the council was efficient.

Cllr Chas Fellow, leader of the council, said: "This really is excellent news for everyone in the district. These surveys are about making sure that we deliver the services that the people of the district want - so it's great to see the upward trend continue.

"Whilst a satisfaction level of 69 per cent is indeed a very high figure, and one to be proud of, we're certainly not becoming complacent. Eighteen per cent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with our performance.

"We continue to be focused on moving them up into the satisfied category and moving those who are already satisfied into the very satisfied category."

The survey also found that 72 per cent of people were happy with recycling and composting and 85 per cent were satisfied with refuse collection.

The results are based on a phone survey carried out between October 26 and November 10 of 300 randomly selected residents who pay council tax, supported by two discussion groups.