A BUILDING firm was as pleased as Punch' after scooping four accolades at a pub company's annual awards.

Blacknoll Limited won three national and one regional title at the ceremony and dinner dance at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena.

Pubs company Punch Taverns held the first annual property awards for firms involved in its premises, such as architects, designers, surveyors and builders.

Building contractor Blacknoll Ltd, which is based at East Knighton, was the southern area runner-up of the category for Best Investment Contractor - Health and Safety Site Performance.

The firm also beat hundreds of its rivals to become the national winners in three categories.

It was Best Investment Contractor - Customer Satisfaction, Best Repair and Maintenance Contractor - Health and Safety, Innovation and Training, and Best Overall Repair and Maintenance Contractor.

Blacknoll managing director Richard Jones said: "It was a brilliant evening and fantastic that we did so well.

"It shows that our years of dedication have paid off and is nice recognition that on every job we care about what we do."

Mr Jones added that the wins were good because they had also resulted in a lot more work for the business.

Mr Jones and estimator Luke Hillier attended the awards evening with their wives.

Mr Jones said that they were surprised and delighted when they kept being called up to collect the awards.

The success comes after Blacknoll was responsible for renovating and building works on various Punch pubs in the south - including some in Weymouth.

It finished work on the Golden Lion in September of last year and has completed projects in Taunton and Cornwall.

Blacknoll has recently completed the refurbishment of the Wise Man at West Stafford, although that project was too late for these awards and will go forward for next year's.

Mr Jones has taken two parties of staff to the Wise Man to celebrate the successes.

The company employs 30 staff directly. Staff work all across the south, south west and Wales on various construction, maintenance and refurbishment contracts.

Local projects for various different pub companies have included an extension at the Sun Ray at Osmington, work on the Poet Laureate at Poundbury, as well as the Sun Inn and the Nothe Tavern in Weymouth.