WHEN you tell people you work at a honey factory the jokes run thick and fast.

But now staff at Rowse Honey in Wallingford can stop people droning on by telling them how they got a buzz out of making their own TV adverts.

In a hive of activity, six teams at the factory on the Hithercroft estate created their own film ads and asked the public which one they wanted to see on TV.

The campaign was launched with a teaser advert in February and more than 10,000 people voted on social networking site Facebook for their favourite, which will now be screened on TV from April 4.

The winning team’s advert, which was chosen on Monday, is called Things We’re Rubbish At.

Team member Toby Atkins, 34, who has worked at Rowse since 2007, said: “I did lots of filming and really enjoyed using the video camera.

“About 200 people work here on the Hithercroft industrial estate and filming the TV ads has been a real talking point.

“I got to know people from different parts of the business as a result of working on this.

“I am really looking forward to seeing our advert go out on TV.

“My wife Lisa, and son Rory, who is two, are also looking forward to seeing me on TV.”

Kirstie Jamieson, marketing manager at Rowse, said: “We’re not all slick and polished and it would have been unnatural to have a flashy advertising campaign.

“So we’re ourselves – wooden acting, wobbly cameras and all.

“At Rowse, our staff are our biggest asset and can portray the passion and culture of the company better than any actors could, so asking them to represent the company in our new TV ad campaign was a natural step for the business.”

Ms Jamieson added that the winning team featured the firm’s managing director David Bondi.

She said that one of the occasions the winning ad would be screened would be during a Coronation Street ad break on April 7.

Rowse, which employs about 200 staff, has announced it will donate 50p for every vote – a total of £5,000 – to the British Beekeepers’ Association.

Part of the donation is earmarked for BBKA’s Adopt a Beehive campaign which supports research and education so more bee colonies survive.

wallingford@oxfordmail.co.uk To see the winning TV advert, visit the website rowsehoney.co.uk