A feast of west Dorset businesses have been recognised among the best food and drink producers in the south west.

The Taste of the West awards celebrates the best products and establishments in the region.

Café Aroma has been crowned best café/tearoom, while many other businesses made finalists in their respective categories.

These include Bridport-based Bayside Bakery for its salted caramel brownies and Cedrics at the White Swan in Misterton for its beekeepers orange and honey marmalade cake.

The Curious Food Company made it to the finals with for its Curious Pig beech-smoked dry cure back bacon, while Palmers was recognised for its Tally Ho! drink in the beer category. It was pipped to the post by Devon-based Salcombe Brewery, which won the category for Island Street Porter.

Clipper Tea made it to the finals in the non-alcoholic drink category for its English Breakfast tea and both the Acorn Inn, Evershot, and The Three Horseshoes, Burton Bradstock, were recognised in the best dining pub category.

Dorset House in Lyme Regis and Wooden Cabbage in East Chelborough are celebrating becoming finalists in the best B&B category while The Alexandra, Lyme Regis, was recognised in the hotel category.

West Bay's Baboo Gelato made it to the finals in the producer of the year category while Washingpool Farm in Bridport was recognised in the farm shop category.

John Sheaves, chief executive of Taste of the West, said: “The region’s food industry is one of our main industry sectors but it is more than that – it links directly with our primary producers here, but of course with our food service and retail sectors too – it is the perfect condiment to both.

"This was aptly demonstrated with the vast array and diversity of winners on show."