ENTRANTS are being sought to battle it out in the Flavours of Hambleton awards after the judges extended the closing date.

Hambleton District Council runs the competition and it has extended the closing date for entrants to July 31.

Residents and visitors can nominate their favourite eating and drinking places too with 11 prizes up for grabs in the Darlington and Stockton Times sponsored competition.

For the first time also businesses can nominate themselves but they must submit supporting material such as menus to help the judges.

Now in its sixth year the competition is part of the council’s drive to forge close links between food producers and tourism operators locally.

This year there are prizes in the best restaurant, tea-room, breakfast, specialist retailer, village shop, outside caterer, food producer, pub food and foods of the world categories.

There are also awards for the best newcomer of the year which is open to businesses which have opened in the last 12 months.

The judges also have an award for outstanding achievement in the food and drink industry which could go to a landlord, waitress or anyone who works in this trade. Judging will be carried out in August with the final three in each category short-listed and invited to the grand final in November.

Nomination forms can be found at www.hambleton.gov.uk.