A SMALL Cheshire company, which develops top-selling toys, has been recognised by industry giant Mattel.

Carterbench, based in Tytherington near Macclesfield, was honoured at Mattel's annual inventors' awards dinner in Los Angeles.

Carterbench's Mega Rigs Shark Ship, which was marketed under Mattel's Matchbox brand, was named `best boys' toy'.

The Shark Ship is a `click apart/click together' system which allows children to build around 40 different ships and rigs. The game is marketed under the strapline `build your own adventure', and is designed for children over the age of six.

It is widely-available on the high street, at ToysRUs, Argos and Woolworths.

More than 40 toy inventors and product development companies from around the world attended the awards dinner. Carterbench has worked with Mattel for more than 15 years, and has received at least one award a year from it.

Accolades

Managing director and co-founder Rob Kay, a former ad agency boss, said: "We are extremely proud of the team's success. The award is one of the highest accolades our industry can give, and working with the Mattel team is a privilege.

"The take-up of this product has been phenomenal both at home and abroad, with stocks sold out way before Christmas.

"The award is the icing on the cake for us, topping off a fantastic year and we are absolutely delighted."

Other leading toys it has designed include a Disney Club House, the Girl Crush for Spinmaster, Planet Protectors for Early Learning Centres, the Light Sketcher for Fisher Price and Maxi Sketch for The Character Group. This week the company will be showcasing its latest innovations at the London Toy Fair.

With a staff of 12 the company turns over £2.5m per year.

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