CRAFTSMEN and women involved in restoration work in York and North Yorkshire have been honoured at an annual awards ceremony.

The York Guild of Building Craftsmanship Awards were held in Bedern Hall, York, where Steve Cluderay, awards committee chairman, showcased the short-listed projects before Guild master Noel Shouksmith congratulated the winners with framed certificates.

The awards recognise the high quality of work carried out by the many skilled craftsmen and women in the York area.

Guy Armitage of main sponsor, the York Handmade Brick Company of Alne, near Easingwold, said: "The awards have developed significantly in the past couple of years and now play a pivotal part in helping York and North Yorkshire to confirm its position as a centre of craftsmanship excellence."

The Craftsman Award was won by construction and fit-out specialists Simpsons of York for their work at a new dome at Thimbleby Hall, near Northallerton. The listed building is being renovated and returned to its original purpose as a family home. The Masters Award went to the York Minster Stoneyard Staff for their Figure of St Peter at the Minster.

Husthwaite Village Hall, near Easingwold, won the brickwork category and the award was presented to head brick layer Sean Lincoln. The main building contractor was Tom Willoughby of Northallerton and the architects were Native Architects of Crockey Hill, York.

There was stiff competition in this category from the North East Enclosure Developments at York Racecourse and Middleton House, Monkgate, which were both short-listed.

Merit awards went to brickwork at 4 Minster Yard, Minster craftsman; scaffold at York Minster, Minster team; various works at St Mary’s Tickhill by Matthias Garn and staff; joinery at Westerdale village hall by JHM Knight & Sons; joinery at Bedale Scout Hall by Randall Orchard and staff; and stonework at Prospect House, Arncliffe by Keith Blades