PRIME Minister David Cameron has given his backing to The Westmorland Gazette’s 2010 Business and Tourism Awards.

Mr Cameron sent a message from Downing Street, saying the awards provided ‘fantastic’ backing for local enterprise.

The PM, who visited the Gazette offices and enjoyed a walkabout in Kendal town centre when he was leader of the opposition, said: "I'm delighted to support The Gazette's first business and tourism awards. This is a difficult time for all of us, no less so than for tourism and businesses, and we all need to work together.

"It's fantastic to see the Gazette backing local enterprise in this way."

The awards look set to become one of the premier events in the business calendar.

But the deadline is looming to get entries in.