WINDERMERE Lake Cruises won the visitor attraction of the year prize in this year's Cumbria for Excellence Awards.

The awards are run by Cumbria Tourist Board to celebrate the best tourism businesses from hotels and bed and breakfasts to visitor attractions.

The Aquarium of the Lakes, at Lakeside - Britain's leading freshwater aquarium - was highly commended in the category for attractions with more than 50,000 visitors per year.

The aquarium's marketing manager Cathy Burrows said she was delighted with the award and the fact that two other Lakeside businesses had also been recognised - Michael Dunne, operations manager at Trinity House, run by the Lakeside Hotel, won employee of the year.