Halifax Share Dealing has been voted as the readers' favourite in two magazine polls.

Readers of What Investment decided that Halifax Share Dealing is the best stockbroker for the third year running. Personal Finance Savings readers voted Halifax Share Dealing as the best online stockbroker, also for the third consecutive year.

These annual awards are decided by the readers alone, and serve to recognise exceptional personal finance providers and services.

According to Sue Concannon, Halifax's managing director, these achievements are incredible.

The fact that the awards are voted for by the magazines' readers - and not judges - is what makes them so valuable from our perspective, she said.

Our whole philosophy is about breaking down the barriers to share dealing and constantly providing innovative services to ensure that trading in stocks and shares becomes accessible to a much wider spread of people, she continued, saying it is an approach that seems to be paying off.

Halifax Share Dealing offers an easy and cost-effective way to buy and sell stock market investments at competitive rates, with no management fees. Over half a million investors are using this service.

Halifax Share Dealing offers a range of different options to suit the individual investor, including Halifax ShareBuilder.

This is an online investment account allows customers to invest in stocks and shares for just £1.50 per purchase.

The site also boasts a new share search engine, allowing investors to find the company behind their favourite brand, to find details including the company history, turnover, recent news, profit and how to go about investing in the brand.

Halifax ShareBuilder can help reduce investment risks by enabling customers to diversify their investment portfolio and invest cost effectively across a range of companies.