FIRMS from South Lakeland, Furness and Eden swept the board in the business awards section of the Excellence in Cumbria Awards.

They claimed no fewer than six out of the seven top prizes up for grabs in this year's competition, which seeks to recognise the county's top businesses.

Leading the way with a brace of accolades was W.A. Developments, based in Appleby, which scooped the Growth Business of the Year Award and the Developing Excellence through People Award.

W.A. Developments Ltd was founded by managing director Andrew Tinkler, who set up as a building contractor in 1987 and carried out some rail network repairs ten years later. Work in this field mush-roomed and today the firm specialises in railway engineering and repairs. Sales rose to £21 million last year. The railway engineering firm opened a £500,000 training centre last year, offering training for staff as well as workers from other rail firms, covering everything from trackside safety to use of heavy machinery.

Ulverston fashion designer Julia Geere, 23, was named Business-woman of the Year and also made the three-strong shortlist for Business Start-up of the Year Award.

It marked a memorable week for Julia, who won the Cumbrian final of the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition a day earlier, pocketing £500 prizemoney and going forward to the regional final in Manchester on April 15. Since starting her business in December 2001, Julia has wasted little time making her mark in the competitive world of fashion.

Her second collection was tipped by the Business Design Centre as the best cutting edge UK business and one of five niche labels to watch by Drapers Record.

Julia, whose work has appeared in the pages of magazines such as New Woman, Real and Fashionline, has taken on her first member of staff.

Forge Europa Ltd walked off with the Exporter of the Year title. The Ulverston firm specialises in the design and manufacture of opto-electronic components. The firm, which is celebrating its 10th anniver-sary, has seen exports rise by 177 per cent in the past year and now employs a dozen full-time staff and five part-timers.

Start-up Business of the Year Award went to Hawkshead Brewery Company, which started production last July. Based in Hawkshead, the micro-brewery makes cask-conditioned real ale, which is sold in 24 pubs in South Lakeland.

Community Action Furness in Barrow, which helps people towards employment received the Community Business of the year Award.