ELEVEN Worcestershire companies have entered a competition which could net them £30,000.

The national UK online for business and InterForum E-Commerce Awards for small and medium-sized firms has attracted county entrants ranging from an air conditioning firm and a cleaning products company.

This year's winner in the West Midlands will be selected in a regional heat next month before joining the other 10 regional winners from across the United Kingdom at the national final in London, in July.

The overall victor stands to win £30,000 with each of the regional heat winners receiving £5,000 and regional runners-up prizes of £2,000 and £1,000.

"It's a great measure of success to have so many companies from Worcestershire entering these awards," said John Chacksfield, e-commerce advisor at the Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

"More small firms now realise the benefits of going online and these awards highlight companies that have really grasped and integrated e-commerce into their business strategy."

The Worcestershire entrants are Worcester firms Power Brokers (UK) Ltd, Oakland Air Control Ltd, Powishaywarddirect, Planet Mu Records Ltd, Ale on Tap, and EM&L Event Management and Logistics. Also entered are Malvern firms HTS Malvern, Electronic Dungeandon, Express Cleaning Supplies, SML (Worcester) Ltd from Hanley Swan, and Broadway's DCS Europe.