Congratulations are in order, as the the Burnham on Sea Food and Drink Festival scooped Highly Commended at the Countryside Alliance Awards ceremony.

Festival representatives Beverley and Sarah Milner Simonds travelled to the House of Lords to receive the award from Secretary of State for environment, food and rural affairs, Liz Truss, on April 27.

Nicknamed the Rural Oscars, the awards are a celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage.

The Champions’ reception in the Cholmondeley Room at Westminster saw over 40 businesses from across England and Wales attend,

Sarah Milner Simonds said: "We are shocked and amazed to have been recognised at these national awards.

"The festival is in its fourth year and we are proud of what we have achieved so far.

"None of this would have been possible without our great crew of stewards, amazing local producers, committed sponsors and supportive partners."

The festival was recognised for its contribution to tourism locally.

Beverley Milner Simonds said: "The Countryside Alliance Awards are so well respected that we are humbled to join the list of people they have recognised.

"We hope that this puts Burnham on Sea in the national spotlight for all the right reasons.

"A big thank you to our principle sponsor, The Retreat Caravan Park, who were able to join us today to celebrate."

The next festival is at the start of the late May bank holiday weekend.

Ms Liz Truss said: "Rural businesses are the lifeblood of this country and its communities, contributing over £220 billion to our economy, so it is only right we celebrate the heroes that make our countryside great.

"I’ve seen first-hand how the nominees for the Countryside Alliance Awards represent the brilliance of rural Britain and I am delighted to be able to celebrate their many wonderful achievements."

Countryside Alliance chief executive, Tim Bonner announced, the winners.

He said: "The Tourism Enterprise Award is a new category this year, created to recognise the contribution tourism makes to the rural economy.

"The commendation goes to an enterprise that has brought new life and energy to a town that had been disconnected from its local producers.

"When the local greengrocer moved out of the high street to set up a local theme park it seemed the final straw and action had to be taken.

"In such a small town you could hear the cows in the nearby fields but it seemed increasingly difficult to eat local food, unless you grew it yourself.

"So surrounded by fabulous food producers this pair decided to celebrate that fact by putting on a free to attend food festival in 2012 with the aim to showcase local food. "That has grown into a twice-a-year event, aiming to build stronger relationships between producers and customers and nurture new habits in the visitors."