OUTSTANDING businesses in the Bridgwater area were among those honoured at the Mercury-backed 2014 Somerset Business Awards.

Around 350 guests applauded the winners as they collected their prizes in a glittering awards ceremony held at Westland Conference and Leisure Centre in Yeovil on Friday.

The awards, run by Somerset Chamber of Commerce, mark their tenth anniversary this year.

Among the winners were C2 Safety, of Spaxton, who won the Business of the Year 1-10 employees category, while Berry and Escott Engineering, (Business of the year 26-50 employees), and Something Different (International Trade Award), both of Bridgwater, collected runners-up awards.

Southwest Digital Systems, of Edington, was a runner-up in the Service Excellence Award and 1610, which operates leisure centres around the county, including the one at Chilton Trinity, won the Skills for Growth Award.

Managing director Jerome Timbrell took to the stage to accept the award.

He said: “This is incredible! I have grown the business since it began and I am delighted to be accepting the award.

"Thank you to our fantastic team, we’ll be coming for the next category size in the coming years, so watch this space!”

The finalists were filmed by the media students from Bridgwater College, who created a short film about each business to be shown at the ceremony.

The work forms part of the students’ final course results. Chamber president Rupert Cox said: “It is an honour to celebrate such outstanding businesses in Somerset and I want to thank our wonderful sponsors for their continued support.

"To the finalists, you’re all winners and should be incredibly proud of your achievements!” You can watch footage from the night at bridgwatermercury. co.uk/video