THE fifth Bolton and Bury Business Awards were hailed a huge success by sponsors and guests.

There were some delighted winners taking home their coveted trophies after the awards ceremony at the De Vere Whites.

It was a night of highs, with the best of the business community in Bolton and Bury honoured for their achievements over the past year.

The audience of more than 450 were entertained by local lad made good, former Bolton Wanderers player Paul Fletcher. At the end of his playing days he went on to help design football stadiums and was instrumental in the Reebok and the new Wembley stadium. Hosting the awards was Dianne Oxberry, from BBC NorthWest.

The Awards’ main sponsor is Business Bolton and Sean Harriss, chief executive of Bolton Council said: “The business awards are a very important event and it is great to see so many successful businesses here from Bolton and Bury. It is a great way to recognise success.”

Also representing Bolton Council was Keith Davies, head of regeneration and development. He said he was pleased with the turnout on the night given the country’s financial position.

“I think the awards are really well supported by the business community in Bolton and the council, through our Business Bolton arm, is proud to be associated with the awards.

It was the new Mayor of Bolton’s first time at the awards as the town’s first citizen. Cllr John Byrne said: “I’ve been involved with the event for the previous two years as the executive member for regeneration and development. It is good to be here as Mayor and I can relax a bit this year. I’m amazed how many big businesses are here as well as the many excellent smaller businesses we have in Bolton.”

Before the event, there was a VIP reception for sponsors and guests were addressed by Cllr Ismail Ibrahim, executive member for regeneration and development, who said: “Each year, the awards have become bigger and better. We see these awards as an extremely valuable part of supporting businesses that are so crucial to the economic prosperity of our borough.”

One of the Bury sponsors was O2. Saj Umarji, head of the company call centre in Bury, said: “It is a crucial event for us. We are building close relationships with local businesses in Bolton and Bury and it is important that we continue to do that.”

Last year’s winner of the Business Person of the Year award, Subhash Kotecha, said he enjoyed this year’s ceremony knowing he was not up for any award.

The Spice Valley restaurant owner said: “I was relaxed at this year’s event and I really enjoyed it. I think it was well organised and it is one of the bigger events of its kind in the North West. It was good to see so many business people there.”

This year the Business Person of the Year Award was won by another restaurateur, Peter Wu from The Chinese Buffet.