A SEAT service centre says business has increased after it was named the best garage in Britain by Motor Codes.

The family-run SEAT workshop Kinghams of Croydon became the first winner of the 'Golden Garages' competition earlier this month, following a 54-day search during which 9,000 public votes and a panel of judges first found the workshop to be the best in London and the South East, before awarding it the national title.

Within days of receiving the award from TV presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson, the garage was "inundated" with bookings from new customers.

Owner Keith Kingham said: "I don't think any of us could have foreseen the scale and immediacy of the impact that winning the title would have on our business.

"We've literally been swamped with calls from people wanting to book all makes and models in for a service. It has been amazing."