SURREY Tourism scooped third prize in the Special Awards category at the annual South East England Tourism Board (SEETB) Awards.

At the recent ceremony, SEETB commended Surrey Tourism on its high quality literature and its efforts to develop partnerships with borough and district councils, as well as private sector companies, to raise awareness of Surrey as an attractive visitor destination.

The accolade is a welcome boost for the group, especially as Surrey hosts five of the top 10 visitor attractions in the country; Chertsey's Thorpe Park, Wisley's RHS Gardens, Bookham's Polesden Lacey, Dorking's Denbies Wine Estate and Godstone Farm.

Alan Good, tourism marketing manager, said: "People, particularly Londoners, are discovering Surrey and are realising how many hidden treasures are on their doorstep.

"We're thrilled that our hard work has paid off with this recognition from SEETB but we won't be resting on our laurels. We will continue to improve the quality of the service and increase the number of our partners."