CAROLINE Godwin is the toast of Salisbury Newspapers after scooping a top regional award in the annual Newsquest South West Ad Awards, staged in the Bibury Suite, at Salisbury racecourse, on Friday night.

Caroline (42), who is the Journal's classified recruitment sales executive, beat competition from five other centres in the Newsquest South West region to win the coveted Sales Person of the Year award.

Caroline, who has worked for Salisbury Newspapers for just 30 months, entered the regional competition already holding the title of Salisbury's Sales Person of the Year.

She was up against competition from the centre winners at Falmouth, Plymouth, Taunton, Andover and Basingstoke, and joined all the nominations in the stiff final round, which included giving a presentation in front of judges.

The presentation included their achievements and objectives, a role-play scenario with a customer and then writing a sales letter to a potential customer.

It was second time lucky for the former assistant manager at Salisbury Health Food Shop, for Caroline won the Sales Person of the Year for the Salisbury Centre in 2002, but got pipped at the post in last year's regional finals.

Caroline, who is married and lives in Idmiston, began work in the advertising business after ten years working in the health food industry.

"I just wanted a challenge," she said.

"I could not go any further and decided on a change."

Today, her clients range from huge national groups, such as the ministry of defence, to small one-man businesses in Salisbury that advertise for a cleaner.

Big or small, they all get the Caroline treatment - courtesy, helpfulness and quiet efficiency.

Caroline's achievement has earned her a trip to America, where she will have the chance to visit two centres run by Gannett, the American parent company of Newsquest.

There were 136 entries across the board for the ad awards and it was a good night for Salisbury, as they also won two other honours.

Claire Gallagher picked up the Best Supplement Award for the Journal Sports Awards supplement - the awards event was held in the City Hall, on February 19 - and Gaynor Topham won the award for Best Display Classified, for customer seasoned services.

Tracey Richards, Salisbury Newspapers' advertising manager, said she was "thrilled to bits" for Caroline and everyone was "very proud of her".

Tracey added: "Caroline is popular among our staff and with our customers. Lots of our customers have given fantastic testimonials about her and everyone she deals with will tell you about her customer care."