AN AWARD-WINNING family coach firm is celebrating a double.

Anthony’s Travel on Cormorant Drive, Runcorn, hailed the ‘best in Britain’ in 2015, has collected two more prestigious accolades in a week.

The company was awarded Best Small Coach Fleet at the UK Coach Awards for the third year running and the fifth time in total.

Last week they received the Responsible Business Award at Halton Business Awards.

The firm was founded in 1985 by Anne Bamber and her late husband Tony.

Partner and son Richard Bamber said: “Despite winning the Best Small Coach Fleet award previously, this really took us by surprise.

"Each year the bar gets raised even higher, the competition gets tougher and the judging and submission process gets even harder providing countless data and information to be verified.

“What’s particularly pleasing is that nominations come from customers, so it’s humbling and lovely that our customers have taken the trouble to enter our company and hard working team.”

He has vowed to serve the community following his parent’s example of supporting good causes.

A community programme is the ethos of their business. 

“We have shown that small businesses can make a real difference in the community they trade in,” added Richard.

“What they may lack in funding they can more than make up in passion and knowledge of their area.

“We have seen proven results over the years and have been proud to play a small part.

“It was a real honour when Halton Foundation asked me to be a keynote speaker at an event on responsible businesses standing alongside companies that commercially and financially are bigger than us.

"So collecting this award and being recognised locally for our small contribution to Halton was a proud moment.”

The award was received by Ollie Bamber, Richard's son and the youngest of Anne and the late Tony Bamber's six grandchildren.