THE team behind eat:Burnham are celebrating after being shortlisted for a top regional award.

Sarah and Beverly Milner-Simonds and their team are one of nine Somerset rural businesses who have made it through to the regional finals of the Rural Business Awards.

Now in their fourth year, the awards recognise businesses' contribution to the regional and national economy and are the only UK-wide business awards specifically for the rural sector.

Sarah Milner Simonds, co-director of eat: Burnham, said she is thrilled the team's hard-work has been recognised.

"Recognition for the effort we put in year round to make the festivals welcoming, safe and meeting our community goals is really welcome," Sarah said.

"We are a really small team and this finalist status is evidence that we are punching above our weight in terms of economic impact regionally.

"The other finalists in the 'Rural Social Enterprise, Charity or Community Project of the Year' category are all fantastic projects and we are flattered to be competing alongside them.

"We would like to offer our congratulations to sponsor Old Mill Accounting who are also shortlisted in their category."

There are 13 awards up for grabs this year in a range of categories including start-ups, manufacturing, food and drink, retail, education and training, and rural professional services.

The South West regional final, which covers the counties of Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire will take place at Bath Racecourse on October 18 and the national finals are in February 2019.

Phil Mills, food and drink specialist from the Old Mill, said: “Old Mill is thrilled to have been shortlisted for the Rural Business Awards and it’s a credit to our team that we are able to provide such a tailored service to our clients.

"And it’s not just us who have made the shortlist, congratulations to Bev and Sarah at Eat:Festivals for being nominated for the awards too. Our food and drink team have developed a fantastic partnership with them over the past few years and it has been great to see how we are able to combine our approaches to help support the rural and food & drink industries.”