A WORCESTER estate agents has scooped a major prize.

Connells, which has branches in Worcester's Foregate Street, Warndon Villages and Malvern, was named overall winner at the Estate Agency of the Year 2007 awards.

The company was also judged the Best Large Estate Agency, Best New Homes Agent and Best Financial Agent and picked up a bronze award in the Innovation category.

The firm's Worcester director Carole Bradley said: "This is a fantastic result which underlines our expertise across all areas of estate agency.

"We have taken the Best New Homes agent title every year since 2005 and have been named the Best Large Estate Agency three out of the past four years which is compelling proof that, in any sort of housing market, we perform at the very highest level."

The Estate Agency of the Year Awards, which celebrate and promote best practice in the industry, are acknowledged to be the most coveted prize in UK estate agency.

Judges, made up of leading property experts and journalists, interviewed all entrants before reaching their decision.

In unanimously naming Connells as the Overall Winner they recognised that it "delivers the basics of estate agency brilliantly, giving an exceptional offering to customers as well as constantly developing new initiatives and, most importantly, achieving results."