TWO environmentally-conscious East Lancashire businesses have achieved major success in a national competition to find Britain's most sustainable tourism venues.

Malkin Tower Farm in Blacko received the highly coveted Goldstar People's Choice Award after winning an online poll of all 61 national awards finalists, while Forest of Bowland AONB at Dunsop Bridge was Highly Commended by the judges as runner-up in the Best Corporate Office category.

They were short-listed to receive one of the industry's most prestigious honours, a Goldstar Award from Green Tourism.

A total of 2,400 contenders were whittled down by the judges to make the final list of nominations for 15 award categories.

Now in its third year, the annual awards honours those businesses and organisations which have done the most to promote sustainability within the industry by implementing cost-saving practices to help the environment, improve customer services and benefit the bottom line.

Andrea Nicholas, director of Green Tourism, said: "The Goldstar Awards are a recognition of the best of the best in Britain when it comes to creating and maintaining a thriving sustainable tourism industry.

“A record number of 61 green tourism businesses from across the UK were shortlisted for the Goldstar Awards this year out of more than 2,400 entries.

“The finalists represent the top three per cent of Green Tourism businesses in the UK.”

The winners were announced at the annual Green Tourism Conference held at the AT-Bristol Science Centre.