STAFF at a Bolton branch of Ann Summers are celebrating after being hailed by a government department.

The retailer was among the Top 100 Best Companies To work For in 2005 as part of a survey carried out by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The recognition comes just two years after the company was banned from advertising in job centres. Old regulations had classed Ann Summers as part of the sex industry, but this was strongly rebuffed by the company who argued that they were a high class retailer.

The decision was subsequently overturned by the High Court in July, 2003.

Store manager Kelly Shaw, aged 22, of the Newport Street store, said: "Ann Summers is a fantastic company to work for and the staff are like a family. The atmosphere is informal and there are wide range of competitions and incentives for staff.

"It has a laid back feel which still manages to be modern and edgy."

The DTI findings discovered that 88 per cent laugh a lot with colleagues, 85 per cent say their team is fun to work with and 78 per cent feel they can make a valuable contribution.

Jacqueline Gold, Chief Executive of Ann Summers, said: "It is ironic that having been banned from advertising in Job Centres by one government department for being unsuitable company to work for, that another one has discovered what we always knew - that Ann Summers is a great company to work for!"

Ann Summers is a high street retailer famous for its sexy lingerie and sex toys which has 122 UK stores and annual sales of more than £155 million.