An estate agent in Exeter has been honoured as the best small employer in the city at an awards ceremony organised by the Federation of Small Businesses and a local newspaper.

Underhill Estate Agents scooped the prize on Friday night after staff members praised the firm for the way it treats its employees, with the co-director of the firm, Debbie Codling, telling the Express & Echo she believes "staff are really, really important to a firm - the most important asset".

"Without our employees, we would not have got to where we are today," she said.

Other estate agents in the area may be wise to ensure staff members are happy in their jobs as Ms Codling reports that her firm''s programme of employee benefits, which includes training and social events, has attracted attention from professionals in the sector.

"At the moment, we are getting a lot of CVs from people working in other estate agents. They have seen what we are like and how we treat our staff differently," the paper quoted her as saying.