A TEAM of travel agents has landed an award after helping holidaymakers travel more than nine million miles.

Staff at Hays Travel in Oswestry scooped the Directors Award at a ceremony hosted annually by Hays Travel North West managing director Don Bircham to celebrate the achievements of his 200-strong team.

Over the course of 12 months, the team of eight staff at Oswestry looked after travel bookings for more than 3,000 passengers on an incredible total of 9.25m miles - that’s 19 times to the moon and back.

Not only did the branch celebrate winning the Directors Award on the night, they also cheered on colleague Aoife Brennan who landed an apprentice accolade.

Hays Travel Oswestry branch manager Sally Jones, who has worked at the store for 15 years, said: “I knew we’d had a good year and enjoyed a lot of achievements with helping our customers, but it was still a shock to win the award. We’re all chuffed to bits and delighted to be recognised.

“It’s particularly nice to receive the Directors Award because it’s the one that Don picks. He said we were a great team led by a great manager.

“I worked out that between us all we have 92 years of experience. Some of the team have worked abroad and for tour operators.

“That in-depth knowledge is vital. We can provide customers with all the information they need from the destination to explaining exactly what will happen at the airport.

Sally said she couldn’t be prouder of her team and paid tribute to 19 year-old Aoife Brennan who scooped the second year Apprentice Award.

She said: “I was so happy for Aoife. She’s done brilliantly. I was really proud of her because she came straight here from school and has worked so hard.

A former student of The Marches School in Oswestry, Aoife has just completed her two- and half-year apprenticeship scheme at Hays Travel.

She said: “I was really proud to win the award. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I left school. I saw the apprenticeship scheme at Hays Travel and decided to give it a go.

“I’m so glad that I did because I couldn’t imagine doing anything else now. The team at Oswestry is brilliant, they’re so supportive and we all muck in together.”

Don Bircham, Managing Director for Hays Travel North West, said: “One of the secrets to our success is the first-rate service our staff provide for our customers.

“I’d like to congratulate the team at our Oswestry branch on winning their award and also Aoife who won an apprentice award on the night. It is all extremely well deserved.”