Two parish councils have become the first in their districts to achieve Quality Parish' status enabling them to better represent the communities they serve.

While Arnside became the first parish council in South Lakeland, and joint second in Cumbria, to achieve the award, Silverdale Parish Council was the first of 37 such councils in the Lancaster city district.

It is also thought that they might have established a record by becoming the first councils with the same clerk to be awarded QP status by two different accreditation panels in the same month.

Coun Pete McSweeney, who assembled and submitted his parish's application, said it was a feather in the cap for Arnside.

"It gives the council a bit of kudos and gives residents in the parish the warm feeling that the parish council is being managed to a certain standard," he said.

Tony Houghton, vice chairman of Silverdale Parish Council, said gaining QP had been a challenge and it was a case of wait and see what benefits it would bring.

"I suppose you could say we don't know yet. We hope it will help in all sorts of ways but we don't know anyone who has any experience of it."

The common denominator was the clerk to both councils, Peter Challenor, of Arnside, who was praised by Mr McSweeney for his "significant achievement".

Before any town or parish council can apply for QP status, it must employ a clerk who has obtained the Certificate in Local Council Administration after having their methods of working scrutinised for 12 months.

The scheme, run by the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister, has created 226 Quality Councils' out of more than 8,500 town and parish councils in the country. The qualification effectively establishes an upper tier of such councils whose voice must carry a greater weight with the county and district councils than has previously been the case, through specially negotiated charters and legislation.

Community benefits include peace of mind that the council is well led, more responsive services and a local access point providing information on services.

The benefits for the parish council are greater credibility in the local and wider community, a better ability to articulate the needs and wishes of residents and a possibility to gain more powers and funding in the future.