Last May, Jill Williams of Broadlands Cattery at Searby Top, had been without a telephone for a month and was reduced to tears, thanks to a catalogue of inefficiency and inaction by British Telecom (BT).


As a result, she had seen her bookings fall by 85 per cent because customers had been unable to get through which, having recently completed a £50,000 refit, spelled potential disaster for the cattery, which is recognised by the Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB).


Fortunately, intervention by The Mail resulted in her being contacted by the chief executive's office and being reconnected within hours of them being contacted.


Now, all that worry seems far behind for Jill and husband Dave, after winning the Favourite Cattery award in the annual pet.net awards at the Ultimate Pet Show at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.


The award is made to the cattery which has the most votes from its customers and Jill and her cattery came out on top in competition with catteries across the country.


"We entered it with a bit of a tongue in cheek really," said Jill "as we're only a small cattery.


"But we went along to the ceremony (on May 4) without knowing if we had won or not and were gobsmacked when our name was read out.


"Some of the comments made by our customers, which we are now allowed to put on our website, made me feel like crying, they were so kind.


"You're usually judged by the FAB or the local council, so it was so nice to hear what customers themselves think."