A BOLTON estate agency has won coveted national customer service title Estate Agent of the Year for the fifth year in succession.

The Purple Property Shop in Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge, took first place in the estate agency category in the annual competition organised by national marketing and support organisation thebestof.

The competition is run throughout January and relies on the number of positive customer reviews, gathered locally by thebestofbolton owners David and Gaynor Ramsden from their local membership.

Matthew Jones, from The Purple Property Shop, said: “We are thrilled to have won this award every year. When we created the company in 2010 our mission statement was ‘to provide a first-class customer focussed service to landlords, tenants and residential homeowners offering them transparent value for money and a rapid and personal response to their needs.’

“It is wonderful that six years on we are achieving what we set out to do, exceeding customer expectations every step of the way. We are very grateful and humbled by the response of our customers whose feedback has helped shape the customer service we are proud to deliver.”

The estate agency was among five first placed local businesses in the countrywide competition. Perfect Finish topped the car body repairs and care section for the third year in a row, Crompton Way Motors won the car dealers’ section for the second year in a row and Amity Conveyancing won the legal services’ sector for four out of the past five years running.

It was also first time success for Rivington Mortgages, new into thebestofbolton this year and top in the mortgages’ sector.

Second place in their respective sectors went to Fidgets Soft Play Centre, Bridge Conference Centre, Bolton Markets, photographer Ania Pankiewicz, Bain Plumbing, Ocean Palace and Curleys Dining Rooms.

Third places in their sectors nationally went to Fish Motors, Smithills Open Farm, OLC education and tuition, photographer Julie Lomax, PR consultant Angela Kelly, The Chinese Buffet, La Salsa, Regans Veterinary Group and Scruffymonkey web design.

Mr Ramsden said: “Once again we’re delighted to have so many businesses placed in the top three nationally in their category and many of those for the second, third, fourth and even fifth year running.

“The Purple Property Shop have topped their category as Estate Agent of the Year five years in a row and that’s a fantastic achievement. We’re proud to work with companies like this.”