Essex County Council has hit back at a league table which claims it has the second worst delivery of services in the country.

Based on Audit Commission findings, the table ranks the council 33rd out of 34. Spokeswoman Lin Alexander-Pye complained it was based on just 20 per cent of the Commission's findings.

She said: "It doesn't give the full picture. Some of the performance indicators don't look too good in comparison with other councils but we've got some excellent services."

She said it was simply the luck of the draw as to which services had been used to create the table.

An investigation has been launched and she said: "We are taking it seriously and always look to improve services."

The council is ranked fourth in comparison with others for some of its library services and Essex social services performs well, as does the recycling programme. However, the council still ranked poorly in the table.

A commission spokeswoman said performance indicators did not represent a set by which individual councils' overall performance could be judged.

The council recently launched its best value plan, to ensure people get the highest quality services. Targets include raising school standards, giving more information to people in community care and repairing dangerous roads and pavements faster

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