Bristol's primary school pupils look to have achieved the best Sats tests results for several years.

But the provisional figures published today have to be treated with caution as some schools have not had all their papers back and a number are challenging the marks.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families data shows that 74 per cent of children achieved the standard expected for their age in English and 73 per cent in maths.

These are up on last year, when results dipped from the 2006 level, but still well below local and regional averages.

The figures for neighbouring local authorities are: South Gloucestershire, English 82 and maths 81; North Somerset, English 83 and maths 81; Bath & North East Somerset, English83, maths 82; South West, English 81, maths, 78; England, English 80, maths 78.

Commenting on the Bristol results, which show English up two percantage points on 2007 and maths up four percentage points, cabinet councillor Peter Hammond said: "Bristol parents should be encouraged by this set of results. We have a significantly improving picture, but there is still much to do to catch up with comparable cities.”

Mr Hammond, deputy Labour leader and executive member for cohesion and raising achievement, added: “Our primary schools, pupils and parents are to be congratulated for achieving these results. Bristol primary schools have also had a good year for Ofsted inspections, with fourteen schools judged 'good' and eight schools judged 'outstanding'. This, together with the proposals in our primary review to create new schools, and to extend, refurbish and federate others, paves a bright future for education in Bristol.”

The Government decided last week to go ahead with publication of the results of the tests taken by pupils in May in spite of a fiasco over the marking by private company ETS.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls said 99 per cent of schools had got their papers back and he was satisfied with the quality of the marking.

Opponents say Sats are a waste of time and money and is detrimental to children and teachers.

But the Government is continuing to back the testing regime.

Mr Balls told Parliament last month: “We must not return to the past situation where school accountability was weak, parents lacked good information about their child's progress, and as a result many children fell behind in their education and development.”

Bristol City Council said yesterday that eight of its 92 schools were awaiting some English results and three were missing maths papers

A spokeswoman said it was also likely that a higher proportion of Bristol schools than usual would challenge the marks children have received this year. The final marks, including figures for individual schools, will be published in December.