FOOD businesses across Hambleton and Richmondshire still have time to enter the popular Flavours of Herriot Country Awards which celebrate the region’s culinary connoisseurs.

The Awards, now in their seventh year, have two new categories for 2018, "Baked Product of the Year" and "Afternoon Tea of the Year", alongside ten categories which cover everything from exceptional tearooms, to talented young chefs and enticing pub food.

The awards take place at Tennants in Leyburn on November 30, but the deadline is drawing near as entries must be submitted by the end of this month.

Irene Myers, chair of Flavours of Herriot Country Awards, said: “We have had a great deal of interest shown in the Flavours awards this year, and delighted with the quality of the entries so far.

“But we do want to remind everyone to get their entries in as soon as possible, as the deadline is August 31, so there’s not that long to go.

“Go to www.flavoursofherriotcountry.com where there are plenty of choices from the 12 categories listed.

“It’s free, and you can enter more than one category.

“We also want hotels, restaurants and catering businesses to put forward and encourage their young chefs and trainees, under 25, to enter the Special category ‘Young Professional chef or trainee of the Year’, which will be judged at Swinton Park Cookery School.”

Ms Myers added that all the organisers were "really looking forward to the awards event this year".

The ceremony itself runs from 11am to 2.30pm at The Garden Rooms at Tennants and will be compered by BBC Radio York presenter, Elly Fiorentini.

The finalists and winners are chosen by an independent panel of judges, headed by chair of judges, Susie Brindley.

The award categories are; Breakfast of the Year, Tea Room of the Year, Local Product of the Year Specialist Retailer of the Year, Afternoon Tea of the Year, Pub Food of the Year, Restaurant of the Year Baked Product of the Year, Cafe/Restaurant of the Year at a visitor attraction, Customer Service Team of the Year, Locally Produced Beer of the Year and Young Professional Chef or Catering Student of the Year.

There is also a Reader’s Choice Award, sponsored by The Northern Echo’s sister paper the Darlington and Stockton Times, and the public can vote for their winner from the list of finalists.

Tickets to the awards will go on sale once the finalists have been announced and all relevant information can be found at the revamped website flavoursofherriotcountry.com