Local companies are celebrating after being named amongst the best in Britain at this year’s Rural Business Awards.

At a glittering awards ceremony at the Chateau Impney Hotel & Exhibition Centre in Droitwich, rural businesses from all over the country gathered to hear who had won the top awards.

Crwst bakery and bar in Cardigan was announced as the Best Rural Start Up, Birchill Access Consultancy in Aberystwyth picked up the award for Best Rural Professional Services and Cletwr in Tre’r-ddôl was named Rural Social Enterprise, Charity or Community Project of the Year.

Dyfi Distillery in Corris was announced as the runner-up to Hillside Brewery in Gloucestershire for the Best Rural Drink Business award.

The Rural Business Awards were established in late 2014 by Jemma Clifford and Anna Price, two business owners who work in rural Leicestershire.

The first awards were presented in October 2015 and the RBAs are now entering their fifth year.

The awards are decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector, official agencies and rural charitable organisations.

The aim is to grow The Rural Business Awards to become the UK’s most prestigious and respected awards for rural businesses and to develop a strong network and community of rural business owners.