A GENEALOGY company with an office in Pool-in-Wharfedale has been recognised by The Plain English Campaign for the clarity and ease of use of its website.

Anglia Research’s business is international probate genealogy. They find missing heirs when people have died without leaving a will, piecing together a complex family tree, often from only the smallest amount of information.

Staff also provide research support for a wide variety of projects, including regularly helping out with the BBC’s flagship genealogy programme Who Do You Think You Are?

The Plain English Campaign has recognised the company under the Internet Crystal Mark scheme, for its angliaresearch.co.uk/ website.

Anglia Research’s commercial director, Leeds solicitor Carolyn Lord, said: “Our business relies on communication. It is vital we provide the people who use our services with all the information they need, in a form that’s readily accessible and easy to understand.

“We are very proud to have gained the Internet Crystal Mark. It represents our commitment to making ourselves clear and, more than that, our commitment to acting with honesty and integrity. Long-windedness and beating around the bush can often hide incompetence or a desire to mislead.”

Gary Robertson of Saltaire-based Aardweb Ltd, who developed the website, said: "Anglia Research showed a real desire to make sure all aspects of the site were as clear as possible for all visitors.

"Many companies that commission websites do not realise how important this is to win and retain clients. In the past, people were impressed by showy graphics, but nowadays they don’t have the time or patience to put up with websites that are not easy to use.”

Factors the Plain English Campaign took into account included how easy the site is to read, how accessible it is for people with disabilities, how easy it is for visitors to find their way around, and how consistent the design and layout are.

Anglia Research was set up by Peter Turvey, a former chairman of the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA). It employs more legally-qualified staff and accredited genealogists than any other UK probate research company. They have tracked down thousands of missing heirs in the UK and around the world, as well as tracing lost documents and assets for clients.