by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Two Kent bosses have achieved a rare double.

Kevin Kneebone, managing director of BACTEC International, Medway City Estate, has been named Institute of Directors' international director of the year for a firm with sales of up to £25m.

Nicky Pearson, managing director of The Beauty Works in Dartford, is director of the year for a business with sales between £5m and £25m.

Mr Kneebone, an engineer, became BACTEC managing director just over two years ago.

The mine and bomb clearance firm has boosted overseas sales to around 80 per cent of turnover.

It is now working in Iraq, the Middle East and Far East clearing ordnance from areas to make them safe for new roads and other infrastructure.

BACTEC recently completed a mine clearance operation in the Falklands and expects to go into Libya when the latest conflict is over.

Closer to home, the firm is working on World War Two bomb clearance from sites of proposed wind farms in the Thames Estuary.

Mr Kneebone said the accolade was perhaps a tribute to his hands-on style.

"We don't send anybody or go anywhere that we are not prepared to go ourselves.

"I'm delighted and it's good recognition for the civilians of what we are doing to grow the company internationally."