Preston's very own safe handling expert Zuzana Gasparova has been crowned the best-of-the-best in a national Operational Safety competition run by the UK's leading express delivery giant TNT.

Zuzana, from Rookery Drive, Penwortham, pitted her wits against dozens of competitors from around the country to grab the title of Loading Bay Operative (LBO) of the Year 2009.

Under the close scrutiny of competition examiners, she tackled a series of tricky practical exercises and tests designed to stretch her skills and knowledge to the limit.

Zuzana, aged 30, is an expert at loading and unloading commercial vehicles in double quick time and works at the TNT's Preston Depot at Moss Side Park, Leyland.

Held at TNT's Kingsbury Parcels Sortation Hub in Staffordshire, the safety competition recognises excellence and best practice among the company's drivers, forklift truck operators and loading bay operatives.

Zuzana collected the £2,000 prize money along with a trophy and champagne to celebrate her win. Runners-up in the competition received £1,000 and third place winners scooped £500. 

She said: "I'm delighted to win. It was a really tough test but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I had no idea how I'd done until the results were read out, so I was a little bit stunned to win the top prize. It's really satisfying to know that you are the best LBO out of thousands."

Neil Griffiths, TNT's Director Health, Safety and Environmental said: "The quality and levels of performance of our people have once again been outstanding. Our people are our greatest asset and it's through their efforts that we retain our market leading position in the world of express deliveries.

"This competition recognises the excellent contribution that our loaders, fork lift truck operators and drivers make to the success of the business - people like Zuzana really are the lifeblood of TNT.

"It's an event that stretches the skills and abilities of the company's finest exponents of their craft and they set the benchmark for operational excellence and safe working practices."