A COUPLE who set up a chalet company in the French Alps almost 10 years ago are up for an award.

Jonathon and Lisa Dodd, from Corringham, have played host to sports stars, including Sir Bradley Wiggins, since opening Ride & Slide, in Morzine.

They are now hoping to bag a top prize after being nominated for the “Best UK Chalet Company” in the World Snow Awards.

Mr Dodd, 39, said: “I was working in IT and my wife was a police detective. We took a career break in 2003 and came down here.

“Within a week, we decided this was to be the life for us and set up the business.

“We started out with just one chalet. Lisa was chef, cleaner and doing everything else, and I was just being the entertainments director.

“Since then we’ve expanded to have four chalets for this winter and a team of 15 staff.”

The awards are set to be announced in November. For more information, visit http://london.skiand snowboard.co.uk/worldsnow- awards