A TAVISTOCK company recently saw success at a prestigious awards ceremony that celebrates building excellence across South and West Devon.

Stephen Whettem Architects received the award for the best vernacular project at the Devon Building Control Partnership Board Awards, for their design of the Gallery 26 function room in Tavistock's Bedford Hotel.

The Devon Building Control Partnership Board (DBCPB) represents West Devon Borough Council as well as Teignbridge District Council and South Hams District Council, and it runs the annual local authority awards' scheme to encourage builders and developers to achieve high standards of workmanship, project management and sustainability.

Owner of the Bedford Hotel, Philip Davis, said: 'Using local professionals certainly paid off. They have created a unique contemporary building, yet drew in the beauty and history of the hotel and this is all complimented by work from local artists.

'It has certainly put smiles on many of our brides' faces with weddings booked as far in advance as 2013.'

Entries for the seven winning categories were nominated by professional surveyors based at the councils, who visited the sites last year.

The ceremony was held in Newton Abbot.