WITH a snip and a grin, Winchester MP Mark Oaten cuts the ribbon to celebrate the 500th timber lodge built by a Hampshire company within 18 years.

At his side is city mayor Cecily Sutton, who headed the dignitary list for the landmark ceremony at the Homelodge Buildings' showroom at Crawley, near Winchester.

The event was the icing on the cake for directors Felix and Peter Bolger, who are the founders.

Earlier this year they won the Winch-ester Business Excellence Award.

That accolade followed on from being voted winners of the Best Outdoor Structure at the National Gardening Awards last year.

Homelodge manufactures free-standing timber buildings that are designed as practical alternatives to other forms of home extensions.

It now installs approximately 50 buildings a year throughout the UK - from Scotland to Cornwall, and from Ireland to the Channel Islands.