STAFF at two Dartmoor hotels will be keeping their collective fingers crossed, as they are both in the running for two regional awards.

The finalists in the 'Food' Reader Awards 2014 have just been announced, with the Two Bridges Hotel near Princetown in the running for the award category of best hotel, along with double Michelin-starred Gidleigh Park Hotel near Chagford.

Michael Caines of Gidleigh Park is also in the running for the category of Devon Local Food Hero.

Executive chef Mike Palmer has been at the family-owned Two Bridges Hotel for 18 months, and is proud to be nominated for the prestigious award.

He said: 'It means the world to not only me but the whole of team TB to be shortlisted for this award with such great company.

'However, it means so much more that this was voted for by the customers so I'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who voted — a great way to celebrate the team's hard work in 2013 and motivate us to make 2014 even more successful.'

More than 8,000 South West foodies have voted in the awards and the final three in each category have been revealed now that a five-month voting campaign has closed.

The winners will be announced at the grand awards ceremony at Blagdon in Somerset on February 24.

The awards, now in their third year, celebrate the best food and drink in the South West and are voted for strictly by readers of Food magazine and http://www.food-mag.co.uk">www.food-mag.co.uk in three rounds of voting which began last autumn.

Food editor Jo Rees said: 'These are very strong contenders, and each of them a worthy winner in their own right.

'What's most exciting is to see is the array of brilliant food and drink businesses in the South West.'

The action will be followed live on the night by @food_mag