Southampton couple Allan and Jacqui Rook were rewarded for their hard work when the national Drain Doctor Plumbing group named them Franchise of the Year runners-up at the company's tenth annual convention in the Algarve, Portugal.

Allan, who first acquired the Southampton franchise in May 1996 and subsequently expanded into the Portsmouth and Brighton areas, now manages a team of technicians operating from 14 fully equipped vans. He said: "Much of our growth has come from satisfied customers recommending us to their friends. Our technicians are excellent ambassadors for the business."

Drain Doctor Plumbing chairman Freddie Mitman said: "Allan and Jacquis team shows a total commitment to our core strategy of providing exceptional standards of customer service, which has supported the group's exceptional growth over the past year."

 Drain Doctor Plumbing was launched in 1993 and now operates over 100 franchise areas throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland. It provides 24-hour plumbing and drain repairs with fixed-price quotations, guaranteed workmanship and no call-out fee.

Photo Caption: Allan and Jacqui Rook receive their award from Drain Doctor Plumbing chairman Freddie Mitman (right).