RYDE tourist information centre on the Isle of Wight has been named joint runner-up in a top awards programme designed to identify the best tourism businesses in south-east England.

Staff from the centre were presented with their award by Ben Fogle, star of TV's Castaway and Animal Park programmes at a special ceremony earlier this month.

Tourism south-east managing director Bob Collier said: "The town of Ryde has once again demonstrated that it can provide world-class tourism services that stand proudly alongside anything else on offer in the country."