Devonshire Motors has been named as Mitsubishi Motors UK’s dealer of the year at a black tie event in Geneva.

Managing director Nathan Tomlinson received the award on behalf of the Barnstaple-based operation as it claimed the manufacturer’s top UK accolade for a consecutive year while Glyn Hopkin in Colchester and Browns of Grimsargh shared the runner-up spot.

In 2016 Devonshire Motors Shared the dealer of the year award with Firs Garage, of Hook Norton, Oxfordshire.

Birchwood in Eastbourne was awarded New Dealer of the Year, with Mansell Mitsubishi in Jersey the runner-up at this year's event.

Smithy Garage of Dyffryn Ardudwy, Gwynedd, and Humphries and Parks in Maidstone received 40-year awards, meanwhile, while Seafield Mitsubishi in Inverness collected a 30-year award.

Key figures from the UK’s 130 Mitsubishi dealerships gathered at the Kempinski Hotel for the awards showcase which came as part of an annual dealer conference which aimed to deliver an insight into the brand’s future.

As well as being able to peruse the distinctive Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SUV, guests heard of forthcoming developments in the model range and they were also shown a one-off desert ‘Pre-runner’-inspired Mitsubishi L200 that has been built in conjunction with Top Gear magazine which will feature in a major adventure story in the magazine in the coming months.

Lance Bradley, managing director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, spoke of the company’s performance over the past year, the brand’s entrance into the Nissan-Renault alliance, and its growing association with rugby across the UK.

Sales and marketing director Toby Marshall, operations director Paul Brigden and aftersales director Richard Weller also made presentations outlining developments in their respective departments.

After the awards presentation, guests were entertained by top comedian John Bishop and the Rick Parfitt Jnr band.