NORTH Somerset businesses have been praised for their ‘remarkable results’ at a charity ball held at the Grand Pier this month.

The fundraiser raised �5,500 for various local community and charity projects. In previous years the money has gone to various partners including Weston General Hospital, Weston Hospicecare and Cancer Research.

More than 170 business people gathered at the Sian Lloyd-Jones Business Awards gala organised by North Somerset Enterprise Agency’s business club (NSEA).

The charity ball, which has been running for 13 years, was held at the pier for the first time . The evening including a raffle and an auction raised �4,000 and Santander Business Banking donated a further �1,500.

Santander representative Will Taylor, who presented the awards said: “In such a difficult climate people are setting out in business - sometimes for the first time - and not only surviving but achieving truly remarkable results.”

First place was awarded to fast food owners Lambtrad Ltd, who in the past three years have bought three McDonalds restaurants in Weston, Worle and Portishead.

Managing director Tim Lamb said he was proud of their success which has enabled them to double their number of staff at a time when unemployment is rising every month.

He said: “We are delighted to receive this prestigious recognition. In what has been a tough and challenging trading environment over the last few years, we are elated with the success, trajectory and growth of our business.”

Debbie Fortune Estate Agents, from Wrington, finished second, just two years after she started the business after being made redundant. Insight Data from Weston came third.

NSEA started the awards in 2000 in memory of colleague Sian Lloyd-Jones who suffered a brain haemorrhage aged 32.