Three businesses in the county are on cloud nine after success at this year's Hampshire business Awards.

Judging panel chairman Tony Cottam had an upbeat message for guests who attended the ceremony at Meridian TV studios in Southampton on Thursday night.

The senior partner with KPMG in the south said: "It's a great illustration of the breadth of skills and talent we have in Hampshire and such diversity can only be a good thing for the health of the county's economy.

"At a time when clouds are still on the horizon for business, it has been great to see these companies putting the county firmly on the map as an excellent place to do business."

Scott Wilson, a Basingstoke based international consultancy that designed the landmark Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, was made KPMG Company of the Year.

Industrial Acoustics Company, a Winchester firm leading the way in the aviation field, collected the Bond Pearce Innovation Award.

Motor giant Ford, the world's second biggest car maker, gained the Marsh Business in the Community Award for its good-neighbour work in and around its Transit factory in Swaythling, Southampton.

The three companies employ more than 2,140 people between them in Hampshire, and the judges said they richly deserved the Daily Echo-backed awards.

Guests were treated to a special edition of the Daily Echo, which printed results and profiles, minutes after the awards were handed out.

Daily Echo business editor Mike Ford was also given a decanter for his help in promoting the business awards over the past decade or so.