A FAMILY-based restoration business were on the rostrum at the South Devon Excellence awards last month.

Character Builders South West Ltd, based in Moretonhampstead, won the most innovative business category at the awards ceremony, which took place at South Devon College.

The ceremony welcomed 30 businesses shortlisted across ten categories, with some larger, well established companies making a bid for an award.

There was a presentation and dinner to enable winners to celebrate and network with other businesses.

The company is led by four brothers, Matthew, Simeon, Thomas and Samuel Diffey, who each specialise in different areas of expertise.

Tom Diffey, who received the award on behalf of his brothers, said: 'It's amazing that we won, we beat off competition from much larger, more established firms.

'Ours really is a local family-run business and it's good that our company has been recognised for bringing that little bit extra in terms of customer services and the attention to detail in the work that we offer.

'We like to think we buck the building stereotype and offer a green approach to building that is fully integrated with the surrounding area in terms of the style of the work we do and the materials we use.

'To us it's also not just about our business, it is about where we fit into the local community, that's why we have been involved in sponsoring the Chagford Arts Festival for a couple of years and raising money for Devon Air Ambulance'.