BED and breakfast proprietors in Horrabridge who designed and maintain their own website are finalists in the Website of the Year category of the South West England Tourism Excellence Awards.

Sue and Rob Kamara moved to Horrabridge from London at the beginning of last year.

After working on their new property, Brook House, they opened for business at the beginning of summer 2003. Sue designed the website at that time and they both maintain it.

Sue said they were delighted to be in the final four in the category.

?We are only a small business, but we?re particularly pleased because we designed it ourselves.

?We had a few teething problems, but I made a point of going on a course so I could understand the basics of the programme we were using. We wanted to do it ourselves so we could update it ourselves,? Sue said.

Because they were too late to get entries in guide books for last year, the website was their only source of bookings and income.

?No-one knew we existed and there is no passing trade. It was particularly successful,? she said, adding that most of their business still comes from the site.

Sue said they wanted to make it user-friendly, suitable for all ages, and visually attractive, with pictures.

?People like to see where they?re coming and the rooms,? she said.

The website includes details of the house, facilities, rooms, rates, location ? with maps to guide visitors ? a list of activities and places to visit in the area, links to other relevant websites, and a reservation and enquiry form.

The awards, known as the region?s ?tourism Oscars?, aim to reward and promote quality within the tourism industry.

Assessment and judging will take place over the coming weeks, and the winners will be announced in October. The awards will be presented at a ceremony following South West Tourism?s annual meeting at the Southgate Hotel, Exeter on November 3.

Regional award winners will be put forward for the national ?Enjoy England Excellence Awards?.