FOR Sandra McAllister, director of Althams Travel, holding aloft a Customer Service Award is a dream come true.

Sandra, who collected the award with Helen Birtwistle, manager of the firm's Burnley branch, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to win this award.

"We are so proud because it is the Customer Service Award and that is what is important in our line of business.

"The travel industry as a whole over the past four or five years has been one disappointment after another.

"It has been really tough for everyone with the introduction of things like internet and bookings on TV.

"The only thing that keeps us in business is the service we give so to get an award for that is absolutely fantastic."

The Customer Service Award was also made extra special for Althams, because the nomination came from the people who mattered most - customers.

The Sledding family, of Burnley, in their nomination, praised the service of Althams staff as being second to none.

Sandra said: "We saw a copy of the letter that had been sent in to nominate us.

"The people who sent the letter have been customers with us for over 30 years and have been booking with us for four generations of their family.

"They only book one holiday a year so to keep coming back to us is fantastic and it means a lot to us that they nominated us."

Althams Travel has 31 branches across Lancashire and Yorkshire and currently employs in the region of 230 staff.

The company will also be donating its £1,000 prize money to be split equally between East Lancashire Hospice and Burnley Hospice - two organisations that Althams supports throughout the year.