A COMPANY that hit on a unique idea to help schools raise funds has coasted its way to victory in this year's Platinum Business Awards.

FunMats: The Art of School Fundraising, based in Spring Lane South, makes coasters, placemats, mousemats and T-shirts featuring the colourful designs of schoolchildren.

Directors Ken and Trish Beecroft and manager Di Monie were delighted to receive the overall award and the production award at Malvern Theatres on Tuesday.

"We're particularly pleased with the effect it's had on our operations team who are very, very happy they've had their work recognised," said Mr Beecroft.

The other director, Gill Gwilliam, was on holiday in Egypt when she heard about the awards but sent a text message saying "great news".

FunMats began in 1995 when Mrs Gwilliam, a member of the parent teacher association at Malvern Wells Primary School, asked every pupil to draw a coaster-size picture.

Malvern-based firm The Coaster Company made the coasters, which parents were invited to buy. The two firms merged in 2000.

In 2003, more than 300 schools across the UK benefited from the FunMats project.