AN OXFORDSHIRE laboratory breeding malfunctioning mosquitoes to battle the Zika virus in Brazil has been named "Social Impact Investment of the Year".

Oxitec, based at Milton Park near Didcot, won the accolade at the Angel Investment Awards 2016 in London on Tuesday night.

The award recognises companies that aim to achieve significant social impact as a core part of their business model.

Oxitec CEO Hadyn Parry said: "It is an honour to have received this award. Oxitec has benefitted greatly from investor support since our spinout from the University of Oxford in 2002.

"This backing has been instrumental in allowing us to develop new, environmentally-friendly methods of controlling insect pests that destroy crops and spread disease."