PROUD landlords of Worcestershire pubs have scooped prestigious awards in a national competition.

Four pubs were the cream of the crop in The Union Pub Company Awards 2005, hosted at Alton Towers.

The Royal Oak in Leigh Sinton, near Malvern scooped the silver in Garden/Floral Display of the Year and was a finalist in the Wine Retailer of the Year award.

The Royal Oak in Broadwas, near Worcester, picked up silver in the Newcomer of the Year section.

Martin Roberts, tenant of The Royal Oak, Leigh, is an awards veteran, having scooped three golds and a silver in three consecutive years, including the Best Pub Garden of the Year.

"It takes a lot of hard work looking after the garden and trying to raise our standards each year and our silver award recognises that our pub garden is still one of the best in the country," he said.

"We've set an exceptional standard and we promise to be back as strong as ever next year."

At Thursday's event, The Red Lion, in Great Malvern, and The Mug House, in Claines, Worcester, won silver in Entrepreneur of the Year and Customer Service Pub of the Year categories respectively.

Manager of The Mug House, Russell Allen, is also no stranger to success, winning gold in the 2004 Customer Service Pub of the Year.

"We're very proud that all the hard work and effort put in by us and our staff over the year has once again been recognised," he said.

"The secret to our success is being attentive and showing nothing is too much of a problem. We get to know all our customers' names and invite them to treat the pub like home."

The Awards, launched in 2002 by The Union Pub Company celebrate and reward the companies' outstanding licensees.