HEREFORDSHIRE is the spot for top caravan holidays and the best for food.

The county has received 11 nominations for the Heart of England tourism awards - and seven of them are for caravan parks and for food.

Caravan parks in the running for a top prize are: The Pearl Lake Holiday Park at Leominster, The Poston Mill Holiday Park in Hereford, The Townsend Touring Holiday park in Leominster and The Millpond Caravan Holiday Park at Tarrington.

Nominations for the "Taste of the Heart" award are: The Hop Pocket Wine Company, at Fromes Hill, The Three Crowns Inn, in Hereford and The Haie Barn Vegetarian Bed and Breakfast, which is also nominated for the Value for Money Accommodation award.

The Pilgrim Hotel, in Much Birch, has been nominated for its outstanding customer service, Lowe Farm, at Leominster, for Bed and Breakfast and Broadfield Court for Business Tourism.

Finalists for the regional awards will be announced at the end of August and the winners in early October.

Bobbie Heavens, managing director of the Association for the Promotion of Herefordshire (APH) - the county association of tourism businesses - was thrilled to see that 10 of the ll businesses nominated for awards were members of APH.

"I have watched the quality increase year-on-year and they all deserve recognition for their investment - both in financial and customer service terms," she said.