CARE services for adults in Bolton have been awarded a top three-star rating by inspectors.

Bolton Council's adult services department, which provides care for the elderly, disabled and people with learning disabilities and mental health problems, achieved the rating for the fifth year running.

Its services have been described as "excellent" by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, (CSCI) which carried out the inspection.

The council is one of just four in Greater Manchester to have been awarded three stars but inspectors said the department still had "excellent" capacity for improvement.

Bolton's Feel The Benefit campaign to help the elderly keep warm in winter and Telecare service which provides them with facilities including emergency alarms and falls monitors were praised.

Inspectors also said Bolton was doing a good job helping people with learning disabilities and mental illness to live independently with low-level support.

They praised progress in developing methods for self-referral and self assessment, increasing customer choice and reducing the number of elderly people admitted to residential care.

Executive member for adult social care and health, Cllr Rosa Kay, said: "To maintain a three star rating for the fifth year running is a great achievement and testament to the hard work and dedication of staff.

"We are thrilled with the judgement. However, we recognise that we can improve even more and will endeavour to raise standards further over the next 12 months."

The boost comes after a difficult year in which the department has had to cut £3.3 million from its budget and faced a strike by carers who sleep overnight at the homes of mentally ill and disabled adults and children in care.

The strike, sparked by plans to scrap their £30 sick leave and holiday payments, ended earlier this month when the council agreed to incorporate the money into salaries.