TWO North Cornwall businesses are celebrating after collecting un-equalled Five Star double-gold accolades, the highest awarded in Britain.

The bed and breakfasts are both in Boscastle and have uniquely gained Five Star Gold awards from independent inspections for the tourist authority, Visit Britain, and further Golds from the sustainable tourism scheme, GTBS.

In the whole of the UK only four other holiday related businesses have achieved the five star double gold status and the two in Boscastle are the only ones in the whole of the Southwest.

First to gain the double golds was the Old Rectory, famous for its Thomas Hardy associations and run as a Bed & Breakfast for the past eight years by Chris and Sally Searle. Theyve now been joined by relative newcomers, Geoff and Shelley Barratt whose business, Orchard Lodge, has been highly commended and given a Visit Britain Five Star Gold to add to the green tourism Gold awarded in 2007.

See this week's Cornish & Devon Post Series for the full report.