TWO Medway organisations are celebrating after receiving a top award for the excellent service they provide customers.

Medway Leisure and Chatham District Employment Service have been rewarded with Charter Mark awards. They were presented with it at a ceremony in the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster on Tuesday.

The awards are part of a Government strategy to improve public service and show that the organisations are fulfilling four key principles.

These include setting high national standards; empowering front-line staff to encourage diversity and creativity; improving flexibility of employment and incentive; and promoting greater choice for consumers.

Richard Hitchin, district manager for Chatham Employment Service, was delighted.

He said: "I'm delighted for the staff. It's really good for them because it recognises that we work hard to get people back into work and that we give them help."