HE ONLY set up his painting and decorating business four years ago but Jonathan Bartlett has just been very highly commended in a national competition run by his profession.

It was his work on Chaucer College, Canterbury - the first re-decoration since the college was completed - that earned him the Painting and Decorating Federation's premier trophy for specialist commercial decoration.

He had been nominated by Ronseal and won through a field of 170 entries nationwide. The massive beams had to be stripped back and a pioneering Ronseal system used to treat them. The citation reads: "Overall, a project with particular difficulties for a satisfied client."

Mr Bartlett, 35, of Sandown Drive, Herne Bay, is delighted with the accolade. A native of the town, he attended Herne Bay Junior and the old secondary schools before starting in the business 18 years ago. Since then he has worked all over the country on contracts ranging from the Ministry of Defence to interior design in Covent Garden.

"But I still know how to work with small, private customers," he said. "I was told I had been nominated for these awards but never expected to do so well. It is excellent. I hope this will help my business in the long run."