A DARLINGTON company has been named North-East Business of the Year.

Whessoe Oil & Gas picked up the coveted title at the regional final of the National Business Awards 2007.

The awards were presented at a glittering gala ceremony and dinner at Manchester's Palace Hotel this evening.

More than 500 business leaders and other VIPs attended the prestigious event.

Darlington-based Whessoe Oil & Gas triumphed in The Badenoch & Clark Business of the Year Award.

Describing the judges' reasons for choosing it Charlotte Hagerty, associate director of Badenoch & Clark, said: "We were all inspired by the passion shown from the leader of this organisation.

"It has a clear strategic vision in place to take the company forward, with proven success to date.

"The competition for this award in the North-East was fierce and Whessoe Oil & Gas stood out with its product development, customer focus and development of people with a new coaching programme."

The firm also won the 3i Growth Strategy of the Year Award.

The company are now finalists in The National Business Awards, sponsored by Orange, held in London on November 13.

Winners can then go on to The European Business Awards 2008 in Paris.

Other successes this evening included Hartlepool-based Garlands Call Centres, which won The Orange Best Use of Technology in Business Award.