BURY Council says its status as the most improved authority in the country means it should unite with Rossendale Borough Council if residents vote for regional government.

The Audit Commission named the authority the most improved in the country today and placed Bury fourth in the national list of best education providers.

Bury Council chiefs had earlier warned they may seek a judicial review if its bid to unite with Rossendale is not taken seriously by the Boundary Committee.

The Audit Commission's updated Comprehensive Performance Assessment has confirmed that the council has dramatically turned around a number of key services following disappointing news last December that the authority was given a 'weak' rating.

Mark Sanders, Bury Council's chief executive, said the figures used by the Boundary Committee to consider possible mergers with neighbouring authorities were 18 months old and did not reflect the council's current performance levels.

He added: "We trust that as the Boundary Committee's only objection to the Bury proposal was about performance, we hope the Boundary Committee will now be prepared to amend its draft to provide for a Bury with Rossendale Council option for the people of Rossendale to decide." Councillor Graham Pearson, Rossendale Council leader, said the council is to hold public meetings across the borough next month at which the options will be explored.

Leader of Bury Council, Councillor John Byrne, said, "The figures suggest that this is a rapidly improving council - if not the most improved council in the country.

"We were all disappointed last December when the Audit Commission categorised Bury Council as weak.

"We felt that was more than a little harsh but rather than sit around complaining, staff, senior managers and members have all worked together on a tough improvement agenda designed to raise the standard of services and modernise the way the council operates."