JOANNE Mahon has won a top award which is safe as houses.

For Joanne, who lives in Whitefield, has been awarded the Sales Negotiator of the Year title by her employers, Alfred McAlpine Homes North West Ltd.

She was singled out for the accolade because of all the hard work she did while working as sales negotiator at the company's development near Blackpool.

Joanne worked at the Brambles development in Poulton-le-Fylde from the day the sales office opened and sold 40 homes in 18 months.

Company sales and marketing director Malcolm Bagshaw said: "Joanne's award is not just about selling houses.

"Our customer satisfaction questionnaires at the Brambles consistently praised Joanne for her genuine attitude to customer care. Nothing was too much trouble for her.

"Add to this the overall presentation of the development, and the show home and her overall contribution to the company's success last year, and she was the obvious choice for this award."

The Whitefield woman has worked for the company for the past six years.

She said: "There is no greater satisfaction in selling a home and working with our buyers to ensure a smooth move.

"I'm really pleased to have won this award and I'm now looking forward to taking on the new challenges at my latest development."

Joanne has now been made responsible for overseeing the sales success of one of the company's latest developments at Whalley.