HARD work building "exceptional" homes has earned a builder a national award.

Jim Mitchell was victorious in the first round of the National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Awards.

The builder, who works for Oxford company J.A. Pye (Oxford), won the award for his management of the Willow Farm site in Marcham.

The awards celebrate the contribution site managers make to create homes of outstanding quality.

More than 16,000 site managers competed for the awards and Mr Mitchell was one of 450 winners.

NHBC regional director Nick Cunningham said: "Congratulations to Jim, who should be commended for building homes of an outstanding standard in the region.

"For 36 years, Pride in the Job Awards has played a pivotal role in NHBC’s work to raise standards across the industry through the celebration and sharing of best practice.

"Pride in the Job recognises site managers who produce the best quality new homes, built and finished to the highest possible standards.

"Most importantly, homeowners who buy a Pride in the Job award-winning home benefit from a high quality product."

Mr Mitchell and the other winners will now be shortlisted for seals of excellence and regional titles, which will be revealed in the autumn.

The regional winners will then go forward to the national finals at in London in January.