STAFF at a village pub toasted their luck with the Irish after winning a mystery diner competition for the second successive year.

The Ram Inn, Cliviger, was assessed and rated every month since last September on the quality of its service and finished top of a league table of 160 others from the Vintage Inn chain.

Each pub was given a percentage score for the month's visit - the Ram Inn's average was 99.2 percent, more than one per cent higher than its closest rival.

As a reward, all 26 staff and Felix Moakler, area manager, flew out to Dublin on an all-expenses-paid two-day trip. This was also the prize last year and staff fully intend on going again next year.

Andy Devanney, assistant manager of the Ram Inn, said: "It felt really good to win two years in a row. When we won it last year we knew we had to be in the running again or people would think it was just a fluke.

"I am very happy with the staff here and know that they treat everyone as a mystery diner so there has never been any need to worry."