NOMINATIONS are in for awards celebrating the lockdown heroes within the Bridport food and drink industry.

Nominations for the Bridport Local Food Group Food & Drink Lockdown Hero Awards are now closed.

The awards have been devised to give residents the opportunity to recognise and give thanks to local food and drink businesses which have risen to the challenges of the pandemic.

Residents have been encouraged over the past two months to nominate a local business which they believe have gone the extra mile to provide them with a service during any or all of the lockdown periods.

There are six different categories and each category will be see a winner and a runner up, judged by the number of votes and quality of comments received.

A spokesperson for the event said: "We had a fantastic response and would like to thank those of you who have spent the time to nominate your local food and drink lockdown hero.

"We are currently counting the nominations received for each business and reading through the comments. We will be announcing the winners and runners up in each category shortly.

"All of the food and drink businesses which have received nominations should be congratulated. The comments received have been fantastic and show real appreciation of what the businesses have done for people living in the area during lockdown."

The local businesses which received nominations are as follows; Baboo Gelato, RJ Balson & Son Bridport, Gelateria Beppino, Bridget's Market Bridport, Cafe Bean, Cherries Ice Cream Parlour, DarkBear, Framptons of Bridport, Fruit n 2 Veg, Fruits Of The Earth, The George Inn in Chideock, The Green Yard Café, Greyhound Inn, The Half Moon in Melplash, Hungry Mule, Leandos pizzas, Longs Fish and Chips, Lumbridge and Vickory, Macsorsons, The Marquis of Lorne, Nettlecombe, Mercato Italiano ltd, New Inn Eype, The New Inn Stoke Abbott, Nick Tett Butchers Ltd, The Ollerod in Beaminster, Palmers Wine Store, Punch & Judy Bakery, Red Brick Cafe, The Ropemakers, The Seaside Boarding House, Spyway Inn, The Station Kitchen, The Sundorbon, Taj Mahal, The Three Horseshoes, Tortilla Cantina, Washingpool Farm and West Country Catch.

The winners will be announced before the end of the month.