BOSSES and staff at Romahome, the south’s only motor-home manufacturer, are dancing with joy after receiving two top industry awards from John Sergeant, who famously pulled out of Strictly Come Dancing last autumn.

Andrew Jones, managing director of the Southampton-based multi-franchise Free-born Group, Romahome’s parent company, and Brian Bailey, managing director of Romahome, which has its factory at Cowes on the Isle of Wight, were more than happy to quickstep to the podium at The Dor-chester hotel in London to receive the awards.

Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly (MMM), the principal motorhomes magazine in the UK, named Romahome the top UK motorhomes manufacturer in its prestigious 2009 awards.

It also gave a bronze award to Romahome’s new R10 Solo, a single berth motor-home recently launched.

The MMM awards, in association with the Caravan Club, are now in their fifth year, recognising the best of the motorhome industry. Editor Mike Jago said: “This relatively small company is forging ahead and moving with the times and doing a great job in this increasingly tough economic market.”

Andy Jones said the awards were a great reflection on the company and its ability to move with the times and liaise with customers and said they had been expanding production at Cowes.

“The judges are right that we are in tune with what buyers want.

“They love the motorhome lifestyle and those who want new vans at more affordable prices find the ideal package of quality and value in Romahome products.

“Much of this is down to the market awareness and product planning of Brian Bailey, Neville Peachey of the Romahome Centre at Freeborn Motor Village in Southampton, and James Saint at Freeborn Motor-homes in Surrey.”