A TOWN marketing firm had a surprise entrant to its in-house monthly caption competition recently - the Leader of the Opposition Michael Howard MP.

Fizz-Bang! Marketing Ltd, based in Weights Lane, was initially surprised to receive a hoax entry to its competition from somebody masquerading as Mr Howard after an awards ceremony where the firm scooped the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award.

Chief executive Michelle Mills said: "It was quite believable as Michael Howard had been the guest speaker at the event and the message itself came with Michael's signature, photo and personal e-mail address."

Fizz-Bang! immediately informed Mr Howard's office and spoke with his private secretary to explain what had happened.

On hearing about the situation, Mr Howard was happy to replace the original hoax with an official congratulatory message and even entered the caption competition - a photo of Michelle and Sylvia Mills at the awards where Mr Howard had been the speaker.

Sales manager Adrian Cartwright said: "It's superb the Leader of the Opposition can make the effort to congratulate a company of our size and if it wasn't for the hoaxer, this may never have happened."

The firm also won Best Service Company of the Year 2004 from the Hereford and

Worcester Chamber of Commerce and became one of the youngest organisations to achieve Investors in People status.