With a fitting theme of The Best of Gloucestershire - winners have been announced in this year's Local Business Charity Awards 2018.

More than 90 guests attended the awards ceremony staged at the much-loved National Star College, an event sponsored yet again by insurance broker Jelf and insurer Ageas.

Staff from the National Star Bistro served food sewn, grown, harvested and reared in the county, including hand-reared organic pork, Bibury Trout, Stinking Bishop cheese and homemade breads using local flour.

Nichola Thomson, managing director, South West & Midlands at Jelf, said: "This year, partly due to the new 'Support A Local Charity' campaign, where we match businesses and charities together, we've had more entries than ever before and many new charities entering for the first time, which was great to see.

"The standard was extremely high across the board and in reality, all those who made it to the finals were only a few points away from winning and so the end results were very close.

"To everyone who participated this year, we say 'congratulations', you are doing an outstanding job, we salute you, for you are what makes Gloucestershire a great county to live and work in. Thank you."

Antony Greensweig from sponsor Ageas, said: "It never ceases to amaze us how so many kind-hearted businesses in Gloucestershire make such significant contributions, on a company and an individual basis, to support our local charities."

The winner of the Jelf award, open to entries from charities with an annual turnover of more than £200,000 a year, was accountant and business experts Randall and Payne, nominated by the Pied Piper Appeal.

The company was nominated for its "incredible support" of the charity including raising just under £14,000 towards a local playground project.

The winners of the Ageas award, open to entries from charities with an annual turnover of less than £200,000 a year, were Dee & Griffin Solicitors, nominated by Longlevens Rugby Football Club, for its support in putting together the first mixed ability rugby team in Gloucestershire.

Antony Greensweig, of sponsor Ageas, said the benefits to the children and adults now playing the game was "incontrovertible and would make an enormous difference to the lives of many in the future".

Longlevens RFC and the Pied Piper Appeal both receive a £1,000 donation from the sponsors.

The winner of the Individual award, announced by Dame Janet Trotter, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire and a judge of the awards since their launch in 2014, was Elaine Hodgin, sales and marketing manager at Clarkson Evans.

Elaine, whose prize was a £300 voucher for a weekend away, was nominated by the Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity, for being a driving force behind the company's charity of the year support and for making a significant difference to the lives of local cancer patients.

Winners and those shortlisted are below

The Jelf Award

Winners: Randall & Payne nominated by the Pied Piper Appeal

The Coventry Building Society nominated by Longfield

Randall & Payne nominated by the Pied Piper Appeal

Robert Hitchins Ltd nominated by the Gloucestershire Community Foundation

Wentworth Court nominated by the Gloucestershire Everyman Theatre Company Ltd

The Ageas Award

Winner: Dee & Griffin Solicitors nominated by Longlevens RFC

Cyber Security Associates nominated by Gloucestershire Bundles

Roberts Express Delivery Transport and Logistics nominated by Goals Beyond Grass

Severn Vale Housing Society nominated by Brockworth Link

The Individual Award

Winners: Elaine Hodgin from Clarkson Evans nominated by the Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity

Cathryn Hage from Pentacom PR and Marketing nominated by the Pied Piper Appeal

Emily Ashman from Specsavers Cheltenham nominated by Carers Gloucestershire

Klara Sudbury from Cheltenham Borough Council, nominated by the Hollie Gazzard Trust

The judges for the 2018 awards were: Dame Janet Trotter DBE, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire• Dr Diane Savory OBE DL Chair of GFirst LEP• Alex Chalk, MP for Cheltenham• Sophie Flowers, Digital Content Editor of Gloucestershire Live,• Cathy Taylor, Head of Commercial Underwriting and Operations at Ageas• Phil Barton, Chief Executive Officer, Jelf