A COUNTY building firm has been handed one of the top accolades at national awards ceremony.

Contractors I. J. Preece & Son Ltd of Wormbridge won in the building conservation category at the national awards of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

The awards are designed to celebrate inspirational and community beneficial projects. The building contractors won in the regional category in May, and were invited to the National RICS Awards in London on October 4

Twelve regional winning projects battled it out for top honours at the awards ceremony, with I. J. Preece & Son Ltd winning the national prize for their work at Llwyn Celyn, Cwmyoy, near Abergavenny.

RICS judges praised those behind the project – Donald Insall Associates, The Landmark Trust and I. J. Preece & Son Ltd – saying that all had shown "a highly considered approach to the conservation and repair".

They also praised the quality of the craftsmanship and the fact local contractors and materials were used for the project.

Llwyn Celyn is one of the oldest surviving hall houses in Wales and dates back to the 1420s, but had fallen into a state of disrepair.

The project took over two and a half years and was also featured in the More4 documentary '£4 Million Restoration: Historic House Rescue' which was first aired in January.