A BED and breakfast business outside Stanbury has been presented with a prestigious award.

The Dorset Cereals B&B Award has gone to Ponden Hall, and was presented at a ceremony last month. (Nov)

The business, which opened its doors in the summer of 2014, saw off tough competition from bed and breakfasts across the country.

It was one of just five such enterprises to receive the national accolade this year, scooping the prize for the "friendliest host" category.

Ponden Hall is owned and run by Julie Akhurst, with help from her husband Steve Brown.

Reacting to the award Mrs Akhurst said: "I'm astonished and delighted. I think it says such a lot about the kind of people that come and stay with us. We really do have the best guests."

She said someone had nominated Ponden Hall and people had the chance to vote for it online. It was then visited by a mystery "secret sleeper" guest.

Mrs Akhurst thanked everyone who had supported her business's nomination, including its many previous guests.

"We've lived here for 18 and a half years but the B&B has only been here for two and half years, so it's so pleasing to get this when we haven't been going that long," she added.

"We're right on the edge of the moors so we get a lot of walkers, but about half the people come to stay here because of the building's connection to Wuthering Heights."

The Dorset Cereals B&B Awards were established in 2015. They comprise five categories: best overall, friendliest host, quirkiest character, breakfast like no other and dog’s best friend.