AYLESFORD Newsprint, the newspaper and magazine recycling plant, has won a national award for manufacturing excellence. The producer of 100 per cent recycled newsprint beat stiff competition that included Land Rover and Vauxhall Motors to win the Resource Efficiency trophy in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers 2002 Manufacturing Excellence Awards.

It was a double victory for Kent, with Jali, a fretwork manufacturer based at Barham, near Canterbury, also winning a top award for Best Practice in IT. The awards were presented at a gala event in the Hotel Intercontinental, London.

Ian Broxup, Aylesford Newsprint's financial director, accepted the award from Michael James-Moore, of Warwick Manufacturing Group, the award sponsor. Chief executive Alan McKendrick was away on business and only learned of his company's triumph by telephone. He paid tribute to his staff, saying they had make the award possible.

The awards are renowned throughout British industry as a measure of significant achievement.

It was the first time Aylesford Newsprint had entered the contest. The firm only did so after hosting a mill tour by Institution members who suggested it should have a go.