A RICHMOND company with only four employees has won a major business award.

Digital Markings, which has developed a revolutionary floor-based advertising and sign system, received the North-East Regional Business Innovation Award at a gala ceremony in Leeds last week.

The company, whose patented system involves fixing highly durable, full-colour, digitalised images on to hard ground and floor surfaces, will now go through to the National Business Awards on November 11.

The unique product can be used on external and internal surfaces and can be cleaned and removed without the need for solvents.

The company was encouraged to enter the awards by Margaret Shea, Business Link York and North Yorkshire personal business adviser, who has provided help and advice since the company was founded in February last year by husband and wife team Barry and Phillipa Pacey.

"The Business Innovation Award is a fantastic achievement and will open so many doors for us. We're up with the big guys now - the sky's the limit," said Mrs Pacey.

"Our company may be small in size but our success in the industry is due to the innovation of our product and the ability to serve large companies such as Virgin, Coca Cola, Toyota and Ford."

Margaret Shea, said: "I am thrilled Digital Markings has been recognised as the region's leading innovator and I am confident their success at the Regional Business Awards will help them to develop further business opportunities both in this country and overseas."

Hundreds of companies entered the North-East Regional finals of the awards, which have been recognised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as the "business Oscars". Eight different awards were made, five of them going to Yorkshire-based enterprises.

Chris Arnold, commercial finance director, Business Solution at Orange, said: "The North-East finalists have shown a clear focus on both innovation and good service. Each has shown a real passion and drive to deliver bright business in their individual markets and we congratulate them all."