AN award-winning business run by an Upton couple has ceased trading.

Husband and wife Caroline and Darren Mears were the brains behind Mears Communications Ltd, a PR and marketing firm.

The company, which was set up in January 2000, came second in the Shell LiveWIRE Young Business Start-Up Awards 2001 and was also awarded the title of Most Enterprising New Business in the South West.

Mears Communications Ltd was originally based in Upton and clients included St Richard's Hospice, Hewlett Recruitment and the Chamber of Commerce and Business Link, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

It later moved to offices in Edgar Street, Worcester.

The company was put into voluntarily liquidation on August 8.

Due to this, Mrs Mears has pulled out of the Worcester-shire Businesswoman of the Year awards, in which she was a top contender for the title.

Mrs Mears, who now works as a freelance consultant for Worcester-based Nutshell Marketing, was nominated for the award by one of her previous clients.

The award is to celebrate women who have set up a successful business and demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurial skills.

The awards take place at the Malvern Festival Theatre on October 2.