John James, of James & Steel, has been presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Petquip Awards.

Amanda Sizer Barrett, director general of PetQuip, said: “The winner of this year’s PetQuip Lifetime Achievement Award is a trader par excellence, a man who loves the pet trade and the camaraderie of pet trade shows.

"He has been working in the pet trade since his mid twenties, promoting pet products throughout the world in the ‘80s as European Sales Director for a well known brand.

“In the nineties he decided to try his hand at running his own business, starting from his garden shed. It is now an established family business trading via distributors throughout the world.”

John said: "I had no idea this was going to happen. It's a very humbling experience and one I will treasure. It is wonderful to be recognised in this way."