A LEADING furniture firm from Warminster has beaten hundreds of other companies in a countywide contest.

Pinetum based at Crusader Park, Warminster was named runner-up at the Wiltshire Business Awards 2003 in Swindon on Friday night.

The firm produces pine and oak furniture and was scrutinised by judges looking at service and production quality.

Dean Robbins, managing director, said: "We have picked up awards before in furniture categories but never competing against companies from all industries.

"We are leaders in our field and have been making pine furniture in Warminster for 15 years.

"We went to Swindon to pick up the award and were absolutely chuffed to bits."

Pinetum employs 130 people at its site on Crusader Park and has been based in Warminster since 1989.

The furniture firm was named runner-up in the £2m-£20m category run by Newsquest.