THREE Cumbrian businesses have been recognised in the national Family Business of the Year Awards 2017.

Cumbrian food producers Hawkshead Relish received the Small Family Business of the Year award.

Maria Whitehead MBE, director of Hawkshead Relish, said: “I am delighted to win, but its Relish not me that has won.

MORE TOP STORIES:

“We are a family team, a team and its combined resources that each and every member brings to the party that makes the sum of the whole.”

The Churchmouse at Barbon won the Hotel & Leisure Family Business of the Year and Hawkshead Relish won the Small Family Business of the Year award.

Julie Natlacen, co-owner of the Churchmouse at Barbon, said that it was ‘amazing’ to have been recognised.

“To think of the thousands and thousands of family-run business in the UK - to win that is really prestigious,” she said.

Julie added that the judges had been impressed with the way that herself and partner John had turned the business around and they had described the venture as a ‘beacon of light’.

And Wm Armstrong, Longtown, received the Transport & Logistics Family Business of the Year award at the Mayfair Hotel ceremony in London.