THE small team behind the eat:Wellington food and drink festival – and similar festivals across Somerset – are celebrating after being shortlisted for a top award.

They are one of nine Somerset businesses to have made it through to the regional finals of the Rural Business Awards.

The awards include categories for start-ups, manufacturing, food and drink, retail, education and training, and rural professional services, with 13 awards up for grabs.

The South-West final is at Bath Racecourse, on October 18 with the national finals in February 2019.

Festival organiser Sarah Milner Simonds said: “Recognition for the effort we put in year round to make the festivals welcoming, safe and meeting our community goals is really welcome.

“We are a really small team and this finalist status is evidence that we are punching above our weight in terms of economic impact regionally.

“The other finalists in the ‘Rural Social Enterprise, Charity or Community Project of the Year’ category are all fantastic projects and we are flattered to be competing alongside them.”