A TEAM of ten women from British Gas in Southampton have beaten thousands of employees from around the country to be crowned the best performing team of customer service advisers in all of British Gas.

The ladies are all part-timers and nine out of ten are working mums. Customer manager Karen Travis from Totton leads the team made up of: Sam Lawford from Hythe, Rachel Kitcher and Liz Poil of Hedge End, Deirdra Dean of Totton, Jacqui Freemantle of Horton Heath, Lisa Drake of Bitterne, Karen Biddlecombe and Beverley Frampton of Rownhams and finally Lisa Watts, a student from Langley, who is the most junior member.

The calls taken vary from a customer calling in with a meter reading to giving advice on the most appropriate products and services to suit their individual needs.

Karen said: "We won it because the team is so consistent, performing really well all the time. It's great to win the award, we all enjoy working together and have a fantastic team spirit, but what gave us the most pleasure was a load of mums beating off some very hot competition!"

Andy Eley, British Gas general manager at Southampton added: "I am really proud to have seen the best CSA team trophy brought back to Southampton and to know that our employees are the best in the country. Of course it's a little galling that the team was made up entirley of women - but it gives the lads a challenge for next year!"