A YORK multimedia company has scooped a top Yorkshire award.

Nine staff at MindWave Media, of Margaret Street, York, were today celebrating their triumph in the Digital Yorkshire Internet Awards at Le Meridien Hotel, Leeds.

Judges from internet companies as well as sponsors Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, were wowed by the company's website, www.idigsheffield.org.uk which is full of data about the 35 sites of archaeological interest in and around the steel city and the Peak District.

A glass trophy was awarded to the MindWave Media client, the Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust.

Judges commented on the "exceptionally clear navigation, informative nature and excellent content of the site" and in their citation said it "made them want to get their trowels out and start digging."

This is the second award of the two-year-old company which last year won the Channel 4 ICT award for Cresswell Crags' "virtually the ice-age" website.

Richard Briggs, the multi-media director, said: "It is good to get such terrific recognition from our peers and colleagues in the industry. Hopefully it will encourage other companies to use us as a web agency."

MindWave Media is the media division of the Continuum Group along with Past Forward, the multimedia design agency for museums.

It is also part of Creation Network, the organisation which represents and promotes multi-media firms in York. Two other Creation Network members were also shortlisted for the Best Information Website category - York Multimedia's tourism site www.visityork.org, and the York Multimedia/PDP Design event site www.yorkfestivaloffoodand

drink.com

Creation's own site, www.creation-network.com - also built by York Multimedia - was runner up in the Best Not-for-profit website category and was commended by the judges as an exemplary site from which other networks around the region should learn.

Other Creation sites nominated included York Multimedia's www.crucial-crew.org, Engnet's www.engnetglobal.com, and York Multimedia's www.sightsonic.com

James Houston, a founder of Creation Network, said: "I returned from the awards last year determined to make sure the wealth of creative talent in York was much more visible this year. I'm delighted that the judges were so extremely positive."

Updated: 09:02 Tuesday, April 15, 2003