The local authority has achieved Carbon Trust Standard, an independent award given to organisations to verify they are reducing their impact on climate change.

This recognition means the council is the first local authority in the East Midlands to gain the standard and joins an elite group of organisations in the UK which have received the accolade, including Marks & Spencer, IKEA and Tesco.

Councillor Heather Smith (Con, Prebendal), the county council's cabinet member for environment, growth and transport, said the award was an "excellent achievement" and mirrored the hard work of the environmental unit, which was set up nine months ago to reduce the amount of carbon emissions

Councillor Smith said: "We have to become increasingly aware of how our actions can affect climate change and it is imperative that we do what we can to reduce our impact on the environment.

"Not only is this important in tackling this global issue but it also makes sense from a financial point of view."

Carbon footprint prize for county

Business development manager at the Carbon Trust, Henry Garthwaite, presents the award to leader of Northamptonshire County Council, Councillor Jim Harker