THE best small businesses in Yorkshire and the North-East have been shortlisted for this year's Parcelforce Worldwide Small Business Awards.

Four hundred companies from the region entered, ten of which will be judged following a shortlisting process managed by the University of Teesside Business School.

Judging will take place on September 3 and the regional winner will be announced on September 8.

Shortlisted businesses include Cobweb Information, Gateshead, Perfillate Technologies, Newcastle, Shark Group, Morpeth, Deep Blue Dive Centre, North Shields, Dipsticks Research, Hexham, The Language Services, Stockton On Tees, and Crossgates Farm Homeopathic Products, Settle.

The winner will receive prizes totalling £6,000, and go forward to the national final in October.