The prestigious ceremony, which is now in its fifth year, was held in the Grand Hall at Scarborough's Spa.

It celebrates the hard work of businesses from Scarborough to Ryedale and Hambleton to the North York Moors. A total of 71 finalists, with five from Whitby, attended the ceremony, which opened with a speech from Clive Rowe-Evans, chairman of the Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership.

Mr Rowe-Evans said: "Our judges have once again been given the most difficult of tasks due to a really high standard of entries.

"It has been a challenging season for everyone but many operators have visitor numbers increase, which just shows how hard they have been working."

While guests were served their three- course dinner, entertainment was provided by the Bob Ludlam Band.

Host Carolyn Hodgson, a former Miss Scarborough and Yorkshire Television Calendar presenter, then took to the stage to announce the evening's winners.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Eden Camp, Malton, won the joint title in the over 50,000 visitors category.

Tourism Experience of the Year, a new category for this year's awards, was won by Whitby Coastal Cruises.

This year's awards saw many of last year's winners once again taking to the stage with Green's of Whitby named Restaurant of the Year.

The Unsung Hero award was the last of the new awards to be handed out.

It was presented to Viv and Vernon Smith, of the Northern Star Steam and Motor Carriage Co, in Whitby.

The judges described the couple as "great ambassadors for both Whitby and North Yorkshire".

Discovery/Starfish Accommodation was highly commended in the Self- Catering (multiple units) category.

Aviva Pearson, chief executive of the Yorkshire Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership, finished the ceremony by congratulating all the winners and finalists, and thanking organisers and sponsors of the event.

SEE Tuesday's Whitby Gazette for more reaction from the awards ceremony.