PLATINUM Awards for excellence in the innovation, retail service and production categories went to eight very different businesses in the Malvern Hills area.

Facility Monitoring Systems, based in Church Street, Malvern, won the award for innovation.

The company specialises in particle and environmental monitoring in the pharmaceutical, aerospace, air quality and drinking water industries.

It recently supplied equipment for the Beagle 2 Mars probe and has created an inexpensive system to monitor Legionella bacteria in air conditioning units.

Software designed to collect data from an array of environmental sensors is now being used globally in the pharmaceutical industry.

Tim Russell and Steve Moss, two of the company's four directors, collected the award on Tuesday.

"The award is going to help improve our profile locally and we're delighted with that," said Mr Russell.

Runner up in the innovation category was Toasta-bags, based on the Enigma Business Park.

In the past 12 months it has developed a new disposable toastabag with a sandwich already inside for customers to take home or back to the office to toast.

The company used NASA technology to create its original reusable product, which is on sale in many stores and continues to be the best-selling product with Lake-land Ltd.

Upton-based internet and retail business Travellingwithchildren won the top prize in the retail category.

Managing director Annie Jones and her team offer information, products and clothing to help families travelling with youngsters have a happy, healthy trip.

"We're obviously thrilled to have won the award," she said. "We're going to keep going and keep expanding as we want every family to have a happy holiday."

Paper Moon Licensed Cafe was highly commended in this category.

The Malvern Link business has only been open 18 months but already has a reputation for good food and service.

As well as an organic menu, it has a gift shop and organic delicatessen, displays the work of local artists, has regular live music sessions and provides bed and breakfast accommodation.

The award for service went to sports coaching company District Sports Services, based at the New Hill Centre in Upton.

Set up in partnership with Malvern Hills District Council to provide sports coaching to primary and secondary schools across the county, the company has provided coaching facilities for more than 5,500 children so far.

Business manager Neil Bond said: "It's good to receive recognition for the work we've done in schools."

The Talbot at Knight-wick was highly commended in the same category. The Clift family took over the pub 20 years ago and transformed it from a neglected village pub to an award-winning establishment, which hosts a successful farmers' market.

FunMats: The Art of School Fundraising was winner of the production category, in which Hanley Swan-based bone china specialists Bronte Porcelain scooped the runner-up award.

The judges were impressed with its handmade products and continual efforts to innovate and maintain quality.