A popular adventure centre in the Lake District has scooped a top national award.

Newlands Adventure Centre and Keswick Climbing Wall was named the Best Rural Recreational or Outdoor Pursuits Business at the Amazon Rural Business Awards.

The awards celebrate the best of rural enterprise, which is worth around £250 billion annually. It is almost all made up from SMEs and employs 3.6 million people.

Debbie Beament, director of Newlands Adventure Centre, said: “We are honoured that Newlands Adventure Centre has received the award.

"To be judged to be the best centre in the UK is quite an achievement and one we are rightly very proud of.

"It is recognition of our team’s hard work, of our constant high standards of operation, of having a steadily growing solid business, and of our continuing investment in our fantastic staff.

"We are so proud of the work we do, and are incredibly pleased that the Rural Business Awards recognised its importance.”

Newlands opened as a walking centre in 1905 and has provided outdoor activities ever since.

It now offers outdoor activities for all ages, plus indoor climbing and archery and as well as traditional outdoor activities such as kayaking, people can try field archery, zip-lining, abseiling and there is a children’s play area.

Debbie added: “It is this continual development and drive to do our best that has kept us at the top of our game. In business, if you are not moving forward you will find yourself heading backwards.”.