AN Inverclyde estate agency has climbed to the very top of the property ladder after being named one of the best in the UK for the second time.

Award winning McArthur Scott in Gourock is among the top performers in the country as it once again secures a coveted spot in the Best Estate Agent Guide.

Owner Fiona McArthur only set up the bespoke business five years ago, with a promise to put her own heart and soul into selling people's homes.

It now ranks in the top five per cent in the industry and the 31-year-old businesswoman is thrilled by its success.

She said: "We are so proud to be from Inverclyde and giving the people of the area the best service we can.

"It is a great place to live and work and we'd like to thank the people of Inverclyde for all their support.

"To be recognised again in the guide is unbelievable.

"I just had this vision and idea on how I would like to sell people's homes, I wanted to do it a different way and I went for it."

Fiona says the firm is very much a family affair.

She said: "My mum Lynne and my dad Ken work with us.

"My family had some property and we had our own business but my background was in customer services.

"I think when I first started the lawyers and surveyors had bets on how long it would last!

"But we have never looked back and are going from strength to strength.

"It is about the personal touch and we put everything in to it.

"We put all our passion into selling people's homes and I am so proud of everything we have achieved so far."

Fiona, who previously helped her mum and dad run the Ulla jewellery shop in West Blackhall Street, has also taken on two new members of staff in letting manager Chris Lynch and sales manager Lorraine Cameron.

She was also delighted to recently welcome MSP Stuart McMillan to the firm's John Street premises to show him around.

Congratulating the team on their award, he said: "This is a fantastic achievement especially given the short period of time the business has been operating."