EAST Lancashire firms are in the running to win regional business awards.

The area has six representatives in the North West Society of Chartered Accountants (NWSCA) gongs, due to be announced on Thursday at the Stanley House Hotel, Mellor.

Simon Diggle, from Blackburn-based accountants Pierce, is nominated for the Rising Star award while Haworths of Accrington is up for Accountancy Firm of the Year.

Norman Tenray, managing director of Longridge work- wear firm OBAS, is nominated for Businessman of the Year and his company is in the Business of the Year category.

Elsewhere, Jim Harkness, from Accrington-based North Lancs Training Group, and Burnley firm Process Instruments, are also in the running for an award.

NWSCA president John Green said: “The high volume of award submissions received this year reflects a robust business community that is determined to come of out the recession fighting and continue to celebrate its achievements.”