ONE of the region's tour operators has been presented with an enterprise "Oscar" by Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Bill Goff Golf Tours was named as one of the fastest growing businesses in inner city Britain.

The South Tynside firm was among 100 companies honoured by the New Economics Foundation, a leading think-tank on neighbourhood renewal, which puts together the annual Inner City 100 index of companies that are thriving in inner city areas.

News of the company's honour comes after South Shields frozen food manufacturing firm The Punjab Kitchen recently scooped a similar award.

Paul Challen, managing director of Bill Goff Golf Tours, received the award.

Mr Brown told him: "The achievements of the entrepreneurs of the Inner City 100 show that we should see our inner cities as areas of opportunity for business, new markets where firms can thrive because they offer a strategic location, untapped markets and a dedicated workforce."

Former Royal Navy officer Paul Challen, 49, bought the travel firm seven years ago from Bill Goff who retired to the south coast. Since then Mr Challen, from Tynemouth, has built the company into the second largest golf tour company in the country with a turnover of £5.5m.

When he took over, the firm was organising 200 holidays a year and now the organisation sends 10,000 golfers to destinations around the globeeach year and employs 22 staff.

Mr Challen said: "The growth in recent years has been phenomenal and this year has been the best yet, with turnover leaping by 20 per cent. I had no knowledge of this industry when I came in and approached things from what I as a golfer would expect out of a golf tour. By concentrating on customer service we gone from strength to strength."