WHITSTABLE-based Signs Express has scored a hat-trick with its third sign industry award in three years.

The company, at John Wilson Business Park, was given the Best Vehicle Livery award for 2002, backed by the British Sign and Graphic Association.

The reward came for its creative use of reflective markings in designs for Mercedes-Benz Service 24h vehicles.

For the past two years Signs Express has been named as company of the year by the Institute of Transport Management in its vehicle graphics awards.

Centre owner Eric Homewood said: "We are extremely pleased to be presented with another award for vehicle livery, our third year in succession, reinforcing our position as industry leaders in the field of vehicle graphics application."

The Sign Industry Awards were presented at the national sign and graphic exhibition Sign UK and were judged by top industry professionals.

Signs Express is the UK's largest sign company with 75 centres around the country.