ESSEX Record Office has achieved a record of its own.

The Chelmsford based has been awarded four star status in the prestigious National Archives Local Authority Archive Survey which is the highest level of the award and means the ERO has moved up a grade since the previous survey in 2007.

The Record Office in Wharf Road benefits from a modern, purpose-built headquarters where it cares for a huge collection of historic documents, maps, photographs, and sound and video recordings which tell the story of Essex’s history.

Jeremy Lucas cabinet member for heritage, culture and the arts said: “The Essex Record Office is a great resource and it is thanks to the dedication of the staff that we have been awarded four star status.

“ The team at the ERO are always striving to provide a better service be this through increased access for the public or by introducing innovative green practices such as using 100% recycled board archive storage boxes.

“ By constantly reviewing practices and putting our customer first we have an archive facility the county can be proud of.”

The Local Authority Archive Survey - a self-assessment programme co-ordinated by The National Archives - takes place every two years. It rates archives in five areas, including how well their collections are cared for and how easy it is to access their collections. The Essex Record Office scored well above the UK average in every area.