The most prestigious awards ceremony in Kent is celebrating a record number of entrants this year.

KEiBA 2018 - short for the Kent Excellence in Business Awards - received 329 entries across its 16 categories.

The new Family Business of the Year Award made a superb impact, attracting the highest number of entrants at 40.

More than 600 people came to the KEiBA gala dinner at the Kent Event Centre in Detling last year.

The final event, returning for the 10th time this year, will be held in the same location in June.

Geraldine Allinson, chairman of the KM Group, which hosts the awards with Kent County Council, said: “It’s a brilliant thing that KEiBA has reached 10 years.

“We’re so lucky with how much people support it around the county and how much people get out of being a winner at KEiBA.”

Cllr Mark Dance, cabinet member for economic development at Kent County Council, said: “Every company which has entered has come away with an accolade, which is either an award or being written about.

“They have done exceptionally well in business terms because all of a sudden, they are on the map in Kent’s economy.”