Awards nod for fab five

FIVE rural businesses based in Dumfries and Galloway have been shortlisted for prestigious Countryside Alliance Awards.

From thousands of entries they have made the final Scottish shortlist of just 23 and will find out in March if they are through to the grand UK final in London in June.

And now the public is being called on to support them and vote for their favourites.

Countryside Alliance Scotland director Jake Swindells said: “Yet again, we have been taken aback by the volume of nominations this year. So many wonderful businesses have been sent in by the public. Every business has an important story to tell - it’s so important that they are recognised.

"At this critical time for so many rural businesses, it is vital we all show our support in whatever way we can. We encourage as many people as possible to get voting.”

The shortlisted companies in this area are:

Local Food/Drink: Five Kingdoms Brewery, Isle of Whithorn

Pub: Selkirk Arms, Kirkcudbright and The Ship Inn, Drummore

Rural Enterprise: Loch Arthur, Dumfries (pictured) and The Sports Shop, Stranraer.

To vote go the Countryside Alliance website.