A HIGH-TECH surveillance business founded and run by a former pupil of The Hill School in Upton has won a prestigious Queen's Award.

Colin Bullock, who founded Enterprise Control Systems Ltd in Wappenham, North-amptonshire nearly 20 years ago, was delighted to hear the company had been recognised in the Innovation category of the awards.

Mr Bullock worked at the RSRE, now QinetiQ, in Malvern from 1973-1984, and his mother still lives locally between Upton and Welland.

The company is a pioneer of COFDM systems, used by police and armed forces in several countries to transmit clear images from surveillance helicopters to officers on the ground.

Mr Bullock said he was proud to lead one of the few privately-owned British companies still involved in the defence industry. "We are extremely proud to have received this award and it is a tribute to the commitment of our team," he said.

His headmaster at the Hill School, Clifford Prosser, said Mr Bullock always displayed great aptitude in all subjects, but was particularly drawn to the workshop.

"If you ever wanted to find him during the dinner hour that was the place to look," he said.