Road Runners, of Cheney Manor, has scooped an industry award for the third consecutive year.

The company has been named Regional Courier Of The Year by the National Courier Association.

And managing director Mike McCartney has received a certificate which will take pride of place in the firm's offices.

Mr McCartney said he was delighted that Road Runners had once again been named the top independent courier company.

Members of the National Courier Association are invited to nominate fellow businesses which they believe offer the best service, and Road Runners came top.

"Some businesses wait for years to be allowed to join this association," he said. "Therefore, to be named the best for the south west region, and for the third year running, is satisfying."

The NCA was established in 1988 to increase the quality and scope of the service that the smaller, independent courier companies could offer clients.

Mr McCartney added: "We were delighted with our two previous wins but this one is particularly pleasing in that we hadn't placed any focus on trying to win awards this year, we were just getting on with running our business as well as possible."

Road Runners provides a 365-day a year, 24-hour same day national courier service, mostly to the business sector, and counts among its clients many blue chip companies in Swindon, Cheltenham and Gloucester.