Yorkshire sweeps the board

Twitter picture of Wayne Rooney holding his newborn son Klay Anthony Rooney, with wife Coleen and his eldest son Kai

Eight tourism businesses in the county saw off fierce competition in the national VisitEngland Excellence Awards.

Captain Cook Memorial Museum, in Whitby, and Samuel’s at Swinton Park, Masham, both took Gold Awards for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year and the Taste of England Award respectively.

Other award winners at this week’s event, which was held in Manchester, included the York Marriott; Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa, York; Drewton’s Farm Shop, near Beverley; Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, Halifax; Wakefield Visitor Centre and The French in York festival, York.

Finalists from Yorkshire had been selected for the VisitEngland Excellence Awards after winning categories in the White Rose Awards 2012.

White Rose Awards Chair of Judges, Professor Colin Mellors said: “It’s a proud day for Yorkshire!”

The deadline for entries for this year’s White Rose Awards is the end of May. To enter visit: http://www.whiteroseawards.com/2013