TILHILL Forestry has received a gold award from Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for an excellent health and safety performance during 2016.

Tina Ambler, safety manager, accepted the award on behalf of the company, which has its headquarters in Stirling, at a prestigious ceremony in Birmingham.

All RoSPA gold award winners have achieved a very high level of performance, demonstrating well-developed occupational health and safety management systems and culture, outstanding control of risk and very low levels of error, harm and loss.

George McRobbie, Tilhill Forestry managing director, said: "The safety of our staff, contractors and the public is our top priority.

"Winning this award is testament to our commitment to reduce risk and improve safety.

"Forestry remains one of the most hazardous workplaces which makes this achievement even more impressive.

"We hope our latest award will help to encourage everyone in our industry to do more to improve. There is still so much more to do."

Tilhill has committed to working with RoSPA to further improve safety among staff and contractors as well as the public using the forests.

The awards are part of a prestigious annual scheme run by the RoSPA.

Tilhill’s award was presented during a ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, at the National Exhibition Centre, on July, 12.

As the UK’s family safety charity, RoSPA’s mission to save lives and reduce injuries covers all ages and stages of life.

In support of this mission, the RoSPA Awards, which date back 61 years, recognise commitment to continuous improvement in accident and ill-health prevention at work.

Through the scheme, which is open to businesses and organisations of all types and sizes from across the UK and overseas, judges consider entrants’ overarching occupational health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.