COVERS Timber and Builders Merchant has been crowned Timber Merchant of the Year at the national Builders Merchant Awards 2017.

The annual awards ceremony, which celebrates all aspects of the industry, was held at London Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London.

Presented by Joanna Lumley OBE, Covers was recognised for the improvements it has made to not only stock but also the education of its staff, the addition of new services, and the offers and promotions it has established.

Neil Woods, Timber Director at Covers, said: “We continually strive to improve every element of our business, so being recognised for our team’s outstanding efforts by the Builders Merchant Awards panel was amazing.

“We work in a dynamic industry that is very ambitious and aims to deliver the very best, so the competition is always incredibly strong.

“I am so very proud of every member of our team.

“They have always been winners in our eyes so the award just rubberstamps this belief.”

Meanwhile, the Chichester branch of Covers Timber & Builders Merchants raised just over £265 for Children in Need.

As well as the branch team donning yellow themed fancy dress, they also held a duck race with customers making a donation to sponsor a duck.

MD Henry Green said: “We have fantastic staff and customers who always thoroughly get behind our fundraising events, so we’d like to thank everyone who made a donation.”

Children in Need 2017 saw people up and down the country fundraising, and in excess of £50m was raised by the end of the night.

The charity works with thousands of groups across the UK and the money will be used to change the lives of disadvantaged children.

It is screened every year by the BBC and many Sussex charities have benefitted from donations.