A TEAM of finance controllers from Thames Water's Customer Centre in Swindon have beaten off competition from businesses across the UK to win the coveted title of Account Team of the Year at the Unlimited Office Stars Awards.

The team of 32 were presented with the award at London's Grosvenor Park Hotel.

Team manager Margaret Chapman said: "We are very proud to have received the national award. I have a great team working with me, who fully deserve this recognition for the excellent job they do."

Margaret and her colleagues monitor all income from domestic and commercial customers, a role which involves processing bills, analysing bank statements, dealing with refund requests and investigating missing payments.

The Office Stars Awards promote excellence, best practice and innovation in office work.

The award citation said: "The judges were looking for a truly outstanding team whose level of professionalism, teamwork and standing in their company makes them ideal as a role model and spokesperson for the office working profession."

The judges praised the team's customer accounting processes and said they had significantly reduced operating costs while maintaining all operational and service standards.

They were also impressed by the group's fundraising efforts for charities, which continued this week when they put together a luxury hamper as a raffle prize to raise money for the BBC Children in Need appeal.