SEVEN local companies have received awards for their safety records in a prestigious international competition.

In the latest Occupational Safety and Health awards, three Preston firms and four Leyland-based businesses received recognition.

The annual awards, run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), are only presented to those companies that can prove they are improving their levels of safety in the workplace year on year.

The awards are now in their 45th year and more than 50 entries were received for this year's competition from various countries across the globe including Australia, America, China and for the first time the Soviet Union and Hungary.

John Howard, RoSPA director of safety policy, said: "The RoSPA awards are now the world's largest workplace health and safety awards programme."

Preston-based chemical firm Cleanaway, in Red Scar Industrial Estate, Preston, scooped their fourth gold award -- one of the highest available.

Helen Orson, assistant site manager at Cleanaway, said the award can help attract new customers.

She added: "The award is definitely something people look for when using our company. It does help."

Another local winner was Leyland Trucks, in Croston Road, Leyland, which has been a gold medal award winner in the competition for the past six years.

Health and Safety manager at Leyland trucks, Bill Mercer, said: "This gold medal award is down to the people within the organisation rather than just the executive team. It involves all the people."

Another organisation to receive a gold medal award is Albion Automotive Components, in Centurion Way, Leyland, while the firm's Farington site scooped bronze.

Leyland-based company ARM Services received a gold award while Lappet Manufacturing, in Calder Vale, Garstang, received a commendation in the manufacturing sector along with Preston-based firm Westinghouse UK Fuel -- a finalist in the same category.

The winning companies received their awards at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel at the National Exhibition Centre on May 22 and 23.