The best of the West is being celebrated as butcher's banter, community shopping and literary festivals top the listings for judges in two prestigious national competitions.

The Rural Oscars and Enjoy England Awards for Excellence are two high profile national events which celebrate successes countrywide.

But the West is shining through on a national level as butchers shops and community shops make their impressions on the judges.

Bonner's Butcher's in Ilminster, Somerset, Farrington Farm Shop in Farrington Gurney, Somerset, and the community shop at Freshford, on the Wiltshire border are through to the finals of the Countryside Alliance Awards known as the Rural Oscars.

Bonner's Butcher's won the Countryside Alliance's Regional Butcher's award after customers praised the warm welcome and lively banter of owner Clinton Bonner and his staff. Head judge Alison Hawes said it was a "shining example" of the high street butcher producing top quality local meat.

Farrington's Farm Shop in Farrington Gurney won the regional Local Food Award. It was described by Ms Hawes as "undoubtedly the best farm shop I have ever been in".

She added: "In fact I ended up doing my shopping there as they had absolutely everything."

The shop is committed to local food, runs a cafe, and is committed to educating the public on food issues.

The Galleries Shop and Cafe at Freshford, Bath, won the regional Village Shop/Post Office Award. It has up to 200 customers a day, and all profits go back to community projects.

Ms Hawes said: "It only opened last August but you already sense it is here to stay."

Also being highlighted as West Country greats are Bristol's Colston Hall, The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival and Gloucester Tourist Information Centre which will represent the region in the finals of the prestigious Enjoy England Awards for Excellence.

These tourism attractions will be up against such internationally famous attractions as Royal Ascot and Chatsworth House.

National winners in the grand finale at the Great Hall in Birmingham on April 15. The three have already won Gold Awards in their respective categories of the contest, sponsored by Blue Chip Vacations and South West Water.

Colston Hall won in the Access for All category; The Literature Festival won the Best Tourism Event: and Gloucester Tourist Information Centre won the Tourist Information Service award.

South West Water chief executive Chris Loughlin said: "It's great to see the South West fighting to confirm its reputation as the UK's leading tourism region in the national awards.

"Our investment in cleaning up beaches and protecting the region's environment over the last 20 years may have played a small part in helping tourism businesses succeed but the but the real number one reason is the outstanding hospitality offered by the South West's people."