A NORTH YORKSHIRE firm is among the nation's top three travel organisations recommended by customers.

Inntravel, based near Castle Howard, is recommended by 91 per cent of its customers, according to a poll of 11,167 people by Holiday Which?

Inntravel, founded 20 years ago by Richard and Linda Hearn, came joint third with independent travel firm Exodus which also had a 91 per cent recommendation rate.

It puts to shame the nation's larger operators. Joint bottom of the poll, for instance, were Airtours and JMC. Only 20 per cent of their customers recommended them.

Last night, the couple had a restaurant meal to celebrate this latest in a string of accolades.

Last year, in the joint Guardian-Observer awards, Inntravel was voted best short break operator, best ski-ing operator and operator with the best website.

Linda, whose 45 staff generate £10 million turnover, said: "It's the first time we qualified by number of votes to appear in Holiday Which, and it is very flattering to go straight into number three."

Updated: 11:37 Wednesday, January 12, 2005