BURNHAM was pipped at the post for a prestigious national coach award this week, at a glamorous ceremony in Blackpool.

The town had been recognised for its commitment to being coach friendly with the nomination from the National Coach Tourism Awards, following a raft of initiatives to promote the resort.

A weekly raffle was introduced for coach drivers to win £100 earlier this year as part of a town initiative named Project Coach, with meet and greeters also added and the town crier available to address tourists on request.

Coach Monthly magazine editor Stuart Render said: “Burnham plays a key role in delivering a high quality of service to coach tour operators across the UK. Burnham was up against many of the leading names in the sector so this is therefore a well-deserved and a significant achievement.”

Burnham finished runner-up to the Isle of Man, alongside Bournemouth, Skipton, Southport and Tavistock, and was the only South West destination to feature at the ceremony.

Les Barber, Coach Destination Manager, said: “To be in the top six destinations was a great achievement considering we were up against some large areas and towns and we managed this on a much smaller budget than anyone else.”

Before the ceremony commenced, Burnham’s coach friendly award, given by the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK was presented on stage by its president, Chris Owens.

Burnham’s business and tourism manager Ian Jefferies said: “To have the coach friendly status award presented in the Tower Ballroom in front of nearly 500 of the coach industry top personnel was great publicity for our small town.

“Thanks go to all the businesses, groups and individuals who have been involved in project coach.”