WEST Dorset businesses have been recognised for "tourism excellence" at a regional awards ceremony.

The annual ceremony saw seven awards handed out to companies from west Dorset for their contribution to the industry at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

Dorset House in Lyme Regis was handed a silver award for bed and breakfast of the year, the Anchor Inn at Seatown was named winner of a bronze award in the tourism pub of the year category and the Town Mill in Lyme Regis was recognised with a bronze award in the small attraction of the year.

Taste Brasserie in Dorchester scooped silver in the café and tearoom of the year category, ahead of Symondsbury Kitchen which took bronze. The Symondsbury Estate was awarded bronze in the self catering holiday provider of the year category. Crafty Camping, run by Guy Mallinson near Thorncombe was awarded a bronze award in the glamping business of the year category.

This year’s event was hosted by ITV news presenter Kylie Pentelow, with an opening address by travel journalist and chairman of Family Holiday Association, Alison Rice.

Alison was also this year’s chairman of judges.

She said: “Yet again the South West leads the way in tourism excellence.

"Whatever 2017 throws at this very special region of Britain, these award winners will excel at what they do best - offering all comers the best possible visitor experiences.”

Winners were spread across the whole region from the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall in the west to Bournemouth, Dorset and Salisbury in the east, and from Kingsbridge in the south to Bristol, Bath and Gloucester in the north.

Many finalists in the awards were also nominated to represent the region in the VisitEngland awards, the finalists for which will be announced in March.

All entrants in the South West underwent a rigorous short-listing process with 380 being visited by a team of 36 mystery shoppers. Entry was free, and all entrants received feedback on how they had done, giving them useful tips for future success.

Robin Barker of Services for Tourism, said: “Excellence is elusive.

"It takes creativity, commitment, investment, and persistence to achieve. Standards have to be maintained for every guest, in all situations, at all hours of every day.

"Achieving excellence is one thing, maintaining it in a world of ever-rising expectations is an even greater challenge. So well done to all of this year’s winners – you are at the cutting edge of this region’s top industry and are genuine business icons.”