A HOUSING association is celebrating achieving a national health and safety award – for the 18th year running.

Northallerton-based Broadacres achieved its first Gold medal in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Health and Safety Awards in 1999.

The association has now been awarded its 18th consecutive gold medal. Organisations that achieve a minimum of 15 gold medals in the row get an Order of Distinction.

Just over 70 companies in the UK have the Order of Distinction and Broadacres remains the only housing association to achieve it.

The award recognises the health and safety management systems that have been put into place to look after the health and wellbeing of staff, customers and anyone else who encounters the organisation.