AN excavator bucket manufacturer has won a national design award for its environmentally-friendly product.

Anross, in Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham, won the innovation category at the Quality in Construction Awards, held in London.

The company, which employs 14 people, impressed judges with its auto-segregator bucket, which it launched on to the market last year.

The device separates waste from recyclable material, reducing landfill and helping to encourage more development of brownfield sites.

Business founder and managing director Rod Leyland said: "Reducing the amount of waste going to landfill is a major bonus for construction companies.

"It saves them money and adheres to incoming legislation that will force firms into adopting recycling methods.

"Inquiries have substantially increased. Although we currently sell to companies in the UK and Ireland, we have had considerable interest from Holland, France and Germany.

"We have sold 12 auto-segregators since its launch last May, and I believe that the market is there for us to increase that to well in excess of 50 per year."