A LOCAL energy supplier has been singled out for its customer service.

Countrywide Energy, based at Defford, near Pershore, was one of only two companies in the country, about which gas and electricity consumer watchdog, Energywatch, had received no complaints.

The report, published in Which? magazine, reproduced Energywatch statistics on the number of complaints received about all energy suppliers.

"Countrywide Gas and Gas West came out best, with zero complaints, compared with Elf at Home and CPL British Fuels, who each had 16.7 complaints per 10,000 customers," said Countrywide Energy's general manager, David Asquith.

Mr Asquith believes that, from a customer's perspective, the only difference between energy companies is the level of service.

"None of the suppliers of gas or electricity provide either an inferior or superior product. It is all the same," he said.

"The difference between the companies is the quality of service that backs up the provision of the supply."

He said customers would always speak to a 'real' person when they called Countrywide Energy.

"At the customer-friendly call centre in Defford, each caller is treated as an individual, by specially-trained staff," he said.

"The caller gets to talk to an individual whom they can be sure will be there the next time they ring."

Countrywide Energy, part of Countrywide Farmers, was formed following the deregulation of energy services three years ago.