IT'S been a long, hard struggle against some sceptics who for years dismissed the work of the Yorktest Group as mere "quackery", but now endorsement has come from no less than the Queen.

Top movers and shakers in the business community turned up at the National Railway Museum to applaud the firm as it received its Queens Award for Innovation from Lord Crathorne, the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.

The organisation, based at Garth Mews, Sim Balk Lane, Bishopthorpe, with laboratories in Osbaldwick, has perfected blood testing kits for allergies in both humans and animals.

Only last month positive results of clinical trials into Yorktest's diagnosis and techniques was published in the British Medical Journal and now, with the Queen's Award, the world is sitting up and taking notice of a venture which has provided relief and often a cure for allergies of all kinds.

Lord Crathorne, presenting the Queen's Award crystal bowl to John Graham, chief executive, said: "This award is an acknowledgement of you being a leader of your field, and an award you can be very proud of.

"It is clear that you have had trouble convincing experts of the efficacy of your efforts and this award is an accolade of vast importance to your company because it proves a real acceptance of what you are doing. I hope you make use, and derive every possible benefit, from that." The top award crowns a series of achievements for the company which, under its former name, York Nutritional Company, scooped the overall Evening Press Business of the Year in 1999.

Since then Mr Graham has received an MBE, while chairman of the company Professor Tony Robards received an OBE.

Last year it was named the technology company of the year, as well as joining the Deloitte Technology Fast 50, and a DTI Smart Achievers award.

Updated: 11:11 Monday, November 15, 2004