The first ever Abergavenny Business Awards were held last Friday at the town's Angel Hotel to celebrate the work of local companies and their contribution to Abergavenny.

Hosted by BBC Wales newsreader Jamie Owen, the ceremony proved a great success and attended by representatives from businesses across the county.

This was the first in what is hoped will now be an annual awards event in the Abergavenny business calendar. Arranged by main sponsors UHY Peacheys Chartered Accountants and Standby Virtual Office Ltd, the awards recognised large and small businesses for their efforts in marketing, community contribution and innovation among other categories.

Award categories included:

Most Promising Start-Up Business – Abergavenny Focus Magazine

Best Green Credentials – Townsend Designs

Excellence in Marketing – Get Connected

Community Contribution – Divalution

Best Presented Premises – The Kings Arms, Abergavenny

Innovation in Business – Visual Impact Productions Ltd

Outstanding customer Service – Judd Brothers

Best Rural Enterprise – Abergavenny Fuels Ltd

Company of the Year – Little Treasures

The prestigious award for company of the year was awarded to baby and toddler products retailer Little Treasures which has grown from operating in its owner's living room to becoming Wales' only first class retailer and service centre for Maclaren baby products.

A special award was presented for Outstanding Contribution to Abergavenny to Chris Wardle and Martin Orbach, the organisers of the very first Abergavenny food festival.

Steve Sulley, marketing partner at UHY Peacheys, said: "The food festival is one of the many jewels in Abergavenny's crown and is responsible for bringing a great deal of business to the area and we have Chris and Martin to thank for this. Abergavenny is now well-known as a foodie destination and it is evident from many of the entries we had for the awards that other businesses thrive off this and commerce is generated as a result."

The Awards were judged by a panel made up of the main sponsors, Martin Palmer from NatWest Abergavenny, Kim turner from the South Wales Chamber of Commerce and Liz Davies of the Abergavenny Chronicle.

Susi Cernoch of Standby Virtual Office Ltd said: "The first Abergavenny Business Awards has proved a great success, we were inundated with entries and interest which proves it is just what the local business community was looking for.

"We have been overwhelmed with the enthusiasm for the awards and are most definitely looking to repeat them again next year. I'd like to extend my congratulations to all the winners and finalists who helped make the evening so special."

The awards were also supported by the Welsh Assembly Government, Anthony A Davies Ltd, 4Ward Development, Gartsides solicitors, Positive IT, NatWest, Core Surveys, Robert Price Builders Merchants, Miracle Workers Agency Ltd, the angel Hotel, Visual Impact Productions, Gwent Hospitals Contributory Fund, Abergavenny food Festival, Love Lily, Art Matters, Alun Griffiths Ltd, Judd Brothers, Magic Moments, FR Ball Insurance Ltd and H Shackleton Ltd.

Steve Sulley continued: "As a company with an 80 year history in Abergavenny UHY Peacheys was delighted to be one of the main sponsors of the awards. It's great to recognise local companies on a local level and see the real difference they make to our community.