A council has been praised for helping small businesses stay afloat.

East Sussex County Council was one of 10 winners from around the country in a contest run by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

In East Sussex, measures included Build East Sussex, a network helping small and medium-sized businesses boost their chances of landing construction contracts with major companies.

Becky Shaw, county council chief executive, said: “Being named one of the best councils in the country to do business with is a great honour, and testament to our commitment to helping to foster an economic climate where firms of all sizes can thrive.”