NINETY-FIVE trophies were presented to the South West’s leading tourism businesses last week.

The South West Tourism Excellence Awards were announced on Thursday — silver award winners included Launceston Tourist Information Centre and Whalesborough Cottages, Bude.

There had been a record 490 entries to the awards. Each went through a three-stage judging process of marking, visits and panel meetings.

The ceremony took place in Exeter Cathedral.

Alison Jeffery, Launceston TIC manager, said: “I was more than pleased! I wasn’t expecting anything, so we are over the moon!”

James Proudfoot, who owns Whalesborough Farm Holiday Cottages, said: “It was a great night, it was all in Exeter Cathedral as well so it was a pretty spectacular event.”

It was the first South West Tourism Award for the business, which has previously won two Cornwall Tourism Awards. Whalesborough is also through to the finals on the England Tourism Awards for self -catering.

This year’s awards event was hosted by ITV news presenters Kylie Pentelow and Ian Axton, with an inspiring opening address by travel journalist and chair of Family Holiday Association Alison Rice, who was also this year’s chair of judges.?

She said: “These high-calibre awards reflect the quality and breadth of the treasures that visitors to the south west can enjoy.

“The judging panel of tourism professionals did not have an easy time! That’s why in some categories they simply had to award more than one gold winner.”

The finalists were also invited to enter the VisitEngland awards and news came earlier last week that 26 South West entrants have made it through to the national finals, over twice as many as any other region. They will have to wait until March to hear how they have done.

All entrants in the South West underwent a rigorous short-listing process with 296 being visited by a team of 42 mystery shoppers. Entry was free, and all entrants received feedback on how they had done, giving them useful tips for future success.

The full list of finalists and highly commended entrants can be found at www.southwesttourismawards.org.uk