The MG Owners' Club has awarded MG Rover Group with its annual 'MG enthusiast' award for its contribution to the MG marque. The award – an inscribed silver salver – was collected on behalf of the 6,400 employees by Kevin Howe, MG Rover Group's chief executive.

The award is made to individuals and groups in recognition of their 'outstanding achievement' or 'involvement'. The MG Owners' Club wanted to recognise the 'incredible achievement' by all the management and workforce at MG Rover Group.

Mr Howe said: "On behalf of my colleagues, I am immensely proud to accept this award from enthusiasts of MG. We've spent many enjoyable hours developing the new range of cars, getting the MG 'DNA' right. This really is the ultimate endorsement that we have achieved the real MG spirit in our new product range."

Roche Bentley, MG Owners' Club secretary, said: "The revival of the MG brand with this year's new models was a fantastic achievement and one that the club's membership had followed with great interest. The MG brand has, since acquisition, been the fastest growing brand – in both product introductions and visibility. Indeed MG's success with a win in the BTCC and a great performance at Le Mans were supported by an enthusiastic club following."