SIX Southend firms that went to town on Small Business Saturday have been lauded in a competition.

During the nationwide initiave that champions local firms, Southend Council encouraged businesses in the borough to deck out their buildings with their finest Christmas decor.

Six winners have now been unveiled from the authority’s Best Festive Business Competition, which ran on the same day as the initiative on December 6.

The six winners were Artability from Eastwood, Scape Interiors from Leigh, Halo Hair and Beauty from Westcliff, Costa Couture Cakes from Southend, Blades Hair Company from Southchurch, and Quinn’s of Thorpe Bay.

The contest was run in conjunction with Southend United, and prizes included an advert in a Southend United match programme, a feature on the club’s website and a picture with Southend United Manager, Phil Brown.

Graham Longley, who is Southend councillor responsible for tourism, enterprise, and economic development, said: “There were some marvellously creative ideas among the decorations and these really added to the momentum of Southend’s Christmas countdown. It was great fun for all.”