A long-established travel business that has been going places for more than a century has scooped a national award.

Baldwins Travel Group, an independent chain with branches in Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, was voted the UK’s best traditional travel agency at a prestigious event in London.

Apart from Offline Travel Agent of the Year, the company also won a separate accolade as Independent Travel Agent of the Year - London and the South East."

Baldwins, founded in 1895, was also runner-up in two other categories - Travel Management Company of the Year and Luxury Travel Agent of the Year.

The 12th annual Agent Achievement Awards, recognised as the travel indusry’s top accolade, were presented at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London attended by representatives of 300 leading retail agents and travel management companies.

The awards recognise excellence and achievement, based on nomination and votes from key players in the UK’s holiday business.

Baldwins business development director Nick Marks was delighted with the agency’s success and paid tribute to the hard work of its experienced and knowledgeable staff.

"You could say we’re on top of the world – in more ways than one," he said. "Winning two awards is a spectacular achievement and being recognised by our peers in the travel industry is a real honour.

"The Offline Travel Agent of the Year award is specifically for companies that do not take bookings via their website. Our service is based on having face-to-face contact with customers, getting to know them and understanding their travel requirements.

"All of our staff are experts in the particular field, which means clients get the very best impartial advice when they are planning their holiday."

Baldwins has won the London and South East prize twice before - 1997 and 2004 - and been runner-up on five other occasions.

The company, thought to be the largest independent retail and business travel agency in the county, has an annual turnover of £15 million and employs 38 staff. Owned and managed by Ron Marks, with nmore than 40 years in the industry, it also operates specialist business, cruise and golf travel divisions.