The success, potential and quality of firms in the Malvern Hills area were celebrated at the Platinum Awards for Business Excellence on Tuesday evening.

Members of the local business community filled Malvern's Forum Theatre for the event, organised by Malvern Hills District Council and supported by the Malvern Gazette.

FunMats: The Art of School Fundraising was the overall winner, receiving £1,000 from the council, with businesses topping individual categories winning £500 each.

Staff at Scarlet Ark in Church Street, Malvern, were celebrating after winning the Enterprise section of the awards.

The family-run gallery, gift shop and caf has recently expanded its premises and supplies contemporary art to galleries and design shops throughout the UK.

Becky Hibbert of Scarlet Ark said she would like to thank regular customers for their support since the business opened in October 2002.

"We were shocked but very, very pleased to win the award," she said. "It's a real achievement, I think, for how long we've been here and it's nice for somebody to recognise what we've done."

Malvern-based food company Essential Dressings, was runner-up in the category.

After winning various awards for its home-made food dressings, the company is now supplying London hotels and major food producers around the country.

The Cottage in the Wood, in Holywell Road, Malvern Wells, won the top prize in the Tourism category.

The recently redeveloped hotel has had a long history of support for voluntary organisations, involvement in local partnership groups and a policy of continuous improvement for its customers and staff.

John Pattin, proprietor for nearly 17 years, said: "I'm very excited we can still be recognised as being worthy of an award. The thing for us in our industry is consistency. Once you have achieved a standard it is a question of keeping it up and pushing ahead."

The White Lion in High Street, Upton, was runner-up in the category.

The hotel has been refurbished and extended to allow greater disabled access for its customers, as well as promoting an environmentally-friendly policy and an involvement with local charities and organisations.

The Arts Excellence category was won by the Autumn in Malvern Festival, held annually during October to celebrate the strong musical, literary and artistic history of the area.

International artists and musicians are invited to perform at the event, which aims to promote Malvern's reputation as a regional centre of arts excellence.

Peter Smith, the festival's founder and artistic director said he was grateful to Malvern Hills District Council and the Malvern Gazette for organising the awards, and University College Worcester, which sponsored the Arts section.

Second prize in the category went to The Cowleigh Gallery, which specialises in contemporary works of art. Bill Nicholls established the Cowleigh Road business 15 years ago and judges felt the company had added a quality and interest to North Malvern that had attracted other businesses there.

6 Becky Hibbert and Lucy Rochford-Dyer at the award-winning Scarlett Ark in Malvern. 14143401