An auctioneers, which has made regular appearances on TV favourite Homes Under the Hammer, has scooped a top award.

The independent firm Clive Emson Auctioneers, established 35 years ago in Maidstone, was named Residential Auction House of the Year in the recent The Negotiator Awards, presented at a swanky London hotel in Mayfair.

The Negotiator is a trade magazine covering the UK residential property market.

Managing director of the auction house, James Emson, said: “Judging was by a 30-strong panel of leading lights in the residential property industry and the accolade is a stamp of approval, a badge of excellence and sign that clients can trust their choice when engaging an agent or supplier.

“Receiving the Residential Auction House award is also testament to the incredible work my colleagues do in preparing more than 1,270 land and property lots in eight auctions this year across the South of England.”

The firm also won the silver award in the Community Champion of the Year category and was shortlisted for Website of the Year.

The firm, which has its last of eight auctions this year today (Wednesday), also sponsored the Rising Star of the Year category,

Negotiator publishing director Grant Leonard added: “The Negotiator Awards is a process of self-analysis for a company, to highlight its strengths and to reveal areas where it can strive harder to succeed. The process of entering only improves the service on offer.”