SCOOPING the ecological honours in last year’s Westmorland Gazette Business and Tourism Awards sparked a winning streak for Staveley-based Pure Lakes Skin Care.

After being presented with the Green Business Award at the Gazette’s glitzy ceremony last September, Pure Lakes owners Iain and Sandra Blackburn went on to win two other accolades.

“In December, we won Nurture Lakeland’s Most Committed to Sustainability Award,” said Mrs Blackburn. “And then in March this year we were presented with the Excellence Award — meaning we were the best of the best — at the Cumbria Business Environmental Network awards ceremony.”

Pure Lakes Skin Care, which was formed in 2007 and is based in Staveley Mill Yard, manufactures a range of eco-friendly toiletries and beauty products that are then sold on to hotels, spas, bed and breakfasts and shops.

They now offer a range of more than 70 organic product recipes and these are sold in bulk to reduce waste and packaged in refillable, recycled plastic.

Mrs Blackburn said she would recommend other companies to enter this year’s Gazette awards.

“I would say to any business that it’s really worthwhile. It is a big endorsement for your company, regardless of what award you win.

“You are being judged by an external panel of business experts who show people that you are running your business in a very successful way.

“And the awards were a really great event. The whole evening was such good fun.”