A NORTH Yorkshire transport specialist picked up a hat-trick at a national awards event celebrating family businesses.

Ripon-based Potter Logistics was named Transport & Logistics Family Business of the Year, Northern Family Business of the Year, and received the top of award of Supreme Champion at the 2014 Family Business United Awards.

Derrick Potter, executive chairman and founder of Potter Logistics said: "We are overjoyed to have received these awards.

"Part of the success of the business is attributed to the first class staff we employ at all levels.

"All staff are seen and treated as part of the Potter family and this is the perfect way to recognise that."

Paul Andrews, managing director for Family Business United added: "The judges were impressed with the journey that Potters has been on since starting out in 1965 and in growing to the significant business that it is today.

"Family values were at the heart of their submission and with the appointment of Matthew Lamb eight years ago, a non-family MD, they have already had to deal with the management succession challenge, something that many family firms find difficult to resolve."