Narberth building firm, T. Adams and Sons, have claimed a top category prize in the Welsh region of the Master Builder of the Year Awards for a sympathetic and seamlessly blended extension to a 200-year-old cottage.

The project, comprising of living room, double bedroom, study and a shower room, in the style of a continental wet room, was chosen from hundreds of entries in the fiercely contested Master Builder of the Year Awards.

Other features include a timber-framed balcony at one end of the property, open beams, and a roof made from a mixture of Spanish and Welsh slate.

The judges commended the builders for the quality of the work, some of which was carried out under difficult conditions with many underground streams to contend with at the initial stages of the project. Once started, the project was given full-undivided attention by the builder right up to completion.

Home owner Dr. Bryant has had building work done on other occasions not just in the UK, but this is easily the most impressive.

He praised T. Adams and Sons who carried out all the work themselves with customer service that was second to none.

Geoff Bridgeman, Welsh regional director for the FMB said: "The Master Builder of the Year awards are pretty unique in that all entrants must be nominated by customers who are delighted with the service and quality of work that their builder provided. We want to reward those companies which have achieved high standards of skill and craftsmanship, plus prove that the building work in Wales outshines the rest!"

The awards are part of a national search by The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) for the best building projects in Wales as part of the Master Builder of the Year Awards 2004.

Ian Davis, director general of the FMB, explained: "Often customers have to live with builders in their homes for several months whilst major work is done, and, for this reason customer service and craftsmanship are considered in equal measure.

"We are rightly quick to condemn builders when things go wrong, but often forget to acknowledge them when things go well. This is a chance to put the good guys in the spotlight."

The award in the category 'refurbishment under £100,000' is one of five categories covering new and refurbished homes and commercial property.

The Welsh winners will now go forward to the national awards that will be announced on April 27.

The national winner will pick up the coveted 'Master Builder of the Year' title and a brand new light commercial vehicle of their choice put up by Nissan Motor (GB) Limited who are sponsoring the award.

The winning customer can pack their bags for a fantastic prize of a £3,000 holiday of their choice.