BRITAIN'S largest retirement home builder heaped praise on the army of suppliers that have helped it to top national customer satisfaction rankings.

South coast giant McCarthy & Stone, which employs more than 1,000 people, showered plaudits on those firms up and down the country which provide everything from bricks and floors to tiles and ironwork.

Chief executive Howard Phillips, pictured second from left on the back row, told them: "We work well together in partnership and the purpose of this event is to thank you for your commitment to that relationship."

The company currently the centre of takeover speculation involving undisclosed parties held its national supplier awards ceremony at the Marriott Bournemouth Highcliff, a mile away from its landmark jukebox' headquarters.

Phillips underlined the importance of the company's suppliers by saying how McCarthy & Stone headed the rankings out of 22 national builders on four key customer criteria, such as the finish of the home.

The £127.4m profit company, which has Ringwood-based Churchill and Cheltenham-based Pegasus as rivals, is currently working on 60 sites, including one at Totton.

It is reportedly on track to build up to 2,000 units across the UK by the end of August the same level as 2004.

In common with other house builders, last year proved difficult because of a sluggish housing market.

However, that has been picking up recently, possibly on the back of a well-received TV ad campaign which McCarthy & Stone has been running.

In the past 12 months the company website received 1.3 million hits, a rise of 20 per cent on the previous year.

The awards scheme, which dates back to 1988 and is the longest-running of its kind in the British house building industry, saw plaudits and glassware given to eight businesses.

Group purchasing manager Colin Cross, pictured first left in the front, said: "Some of our suppliers have been working for us for over 20 years and have become friends and colleagues rather than people to browbeat.

"The benefits are clear we have the lowest level of construction faults in the industry and a 91 per cent recommendation rate from our residents."

McCarthy & Stone also hammered home the message that suppliers must do their bit for the planet by becoming more green.