A south Norfolk town clerk is in the running for a prestigious national local government award.Margot Harbour, clerk of Harleston Town Council, will find out today whether she has scooped honours in the Local Council Awards 2010.

A south Norfolk town clerk is in the running for a prestigious national local government award.

Margot Harbour, clerk of Harleston Town Council, will find out today whether she has scooped honours in the Local Council Awards 2010.

Ms Harbour, who only began her first council clerk job in February 2009, is in the final three of the clerk of the year category in the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) awards.

The former project officer for Harleston Development Partnership and Harleston Information Plus has helped turn around the fortunes of Harleston Town Council, which was on the brink of bankruptcy when she took over after the authority had spent all of its reserves.

Council tax bills in Redenhall and Harleston went up by more than 200pc in 2009/10, but stabilised at a 1.75pc precept rise this year.

Ms Harbour yesterday said she was 'shocked' and 'thrilled' to make the final three of the national competition. The final will be held at One George Street, in London, today .

Michael Chater, chairman of NALC, said: 'The National Association is very proud of the achievements of all our local councils and this came through loud and clear in the applications for all the awards. Indeed I found the standard of applications quite staggeringly high and being on the judging panel was quite a humbling experience.'

Dereham Town Council is up against St Erme Parish Council, in Cornwall, and Kingston Parish Council, in East Sussex, for the title of council of the year in the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) awards.