VISITOR attractions in the Wyre Forest area are in the running for top West Midlands tourism titles.

Wolverley's Bodenham Arboretum, Brockencote Hall at Chaddesley Corbett and Bewdley-based West Midland Safari Park are shortlisted finalists for the 2004 Heart of England Excellence in Tourism awards.

The scheme, run by Heart of England Tourism - HET - is designed to recognise quality and celebrate the contribution made by tourism businesses to the economy of the region.

Wyre Forest's contenders are among 54 selected for the shortlist, which has drawn entrants from Shropshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire and Birmingham, as well as Worcestershire, across a range of categories.

Bodenham Arboretum is in the category for the small visitor attraction of the year, Brockencote Hall in the small hotel of the year section and West Midland Safari Park in the large visitor attraction of the year class.

Judgement of applicants is based on criteria including commitment to excellence, investment, innovation, customer care, accessibility and environmental issues.

Sir William Lawrence, chairman of Heart of England Tourism, said: "Choosing the shortlist and the eventual winners becomes ever more difficult as the competition grows and the number and quality of entrants increases.

"Those making the shortlist can be, rightly, pleased with their achievement and I wish them all the best of luck at the awards."

Finalists will learn whether they have earned gold or silver awards during the Heart of England Excellence in Tourism awards and gala dinner in Ironbridge tomorrow.

They will also find out whether they will progress to the national Enjoy England Excellence awards in 2005 as West Midlands regional representatives.

David Moyser, chief executive of Heart of England Tourism, said: "All the finalists, indeed all those that entered, should be very proud knowing that their businesses show real quality, demonstrate excellence and are committed to tourism in their own destinations and across the region.

"To have reached the finals is praise indeed but to win a gold award will bring prestige, more customers and, for some, the opportunity to be crowned the best in the country in 2005," he added.