A new media consultancy has turned the Mexican wave into a round of applause for its latest web site design.

Lewes-based Harvard Consultancy Services has won a Golden Web award for its work on the site for Newhaven-based Mexican furniture specialists Casa Mexicana.

The award by the International Association of Webmasters and Designers, which has more than 100,000 members in 137 countries, commended the content, design and originality of the site.

Casa Mexicana specialises in genuine Mexican furniture and accessories.

Its range of handmade furniture is chosen on visits to the country and is then imported directly.

Owner Jonathan Obodo realised a web site would help promote his wares and commissioned Harvard to develop an online showcase to reflect the company's cultural flavour.

Mr Obodo said he was delighted the site had won an award, adding: "We worked closely with Harvard to develop the site and I was very pleased with the results.

"It is really satisfying to have our work recognised in this way."

Chris Meaney, Harvard's managing director, said the two businesses had stumbled across each other by accident.

He said: "I was driving through Newhaven and Casa Mexicana caught my eye.

"I went in and discovered a treasure trove of hand-carved furniture.

"We got chatting and we ended up working with them to develop a web site.

"We are thrilled to have been given this award."

Harvard's other customers include Cambridgeshire County Council, the Royal Academy of Music and the British Library.

This is not its first link-up with Latin America. Earlier this year, the consultancy was praised for its role in developing tourism and promoting the cultural heritage of Brazil.

Harvard was one of two commercial organisations chosen to take part in a trade mission organised by the British Council.

The consultancy was asked to address more than 300 Brazilian professionals on a range of subjects, including interpretive technologies.

Mr Meaney helped develop skills in interpretation of the region's historic and cultural heritage to appeal to a wider audience.

Brazil has the seventh largest global economy but tourism figures are only a fifth of those expected from a country of its size and population.

Mr Meaney said: "It has a rich culture and heritage, possessing the oldest church in the Americas, evidence of human occupation dating back 13,000 years and the finest neoclassical architecture outside of Europe."

www.harvardcs.com.

www.casa-mexicana.co.uk