A LONDON company whose cameras have been used in blockbuster films such as King Kong, Gladiator and the soon to be released Da Vinci Code have won an Oscar.

A & C Limited, from Harrow, won the Technical Achievement Award from the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in the annual ceremony for technical work which precedes the Oscars.

Remote control camera

The result was a personal triumph for directors Frank Fletcher and Dave Sherwin, who have developed their innovative remote control camera, the Power-Pod, over twenty years.

Managing Director Frank Fletcher said: "We are proud that our small design and manufacturing company has been acknowledged as a significant player in the important motion picture industry.

"The Power-Pod has become an industry standard. We did a calculation recently and worked out that it is used in two out of three feature films that are made.

"We were not the first people to make a remote control camera, but we were the first to make the technology accessible. The best thing about the Power-Pod is that you don't have to be a magician to make it work."

Frank, 55, from Borehamwood, and Dave, 57, from Garston, were thrilled to be invited to the awards dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills on Saturday.

Although they do not get a gold statuette, they were presented with a framed certificate, awarded by actress Rachel McAdams.

They were cited for accomplishments that contribute to the progress of the industry' for the Power-Pod, which allows teams to remain at a safe distance for dangerous filming such as stunts, wildlife or war coverage.

Da Vinci Code

It has been used in a host of recent films including the Da Vinci Code, King Kong and Gladiator.

Co-director Dave Sherwin said: "Our first professional remote controlled camera head systems were built back in 1986. They were soon recognised as being among the first to be truly practical and reliable.

"Since then, development of these products has established us as a world leader in the field, and has culminated in the prestigious accolade we have received this evening."