A CARE home, a central heating company and a firm that makes lifts for the Imperial War Museum are some of the first nominees for a new business award.

Castle Point Borough Council started the award as part of its drive to celebrate and encourage business in the area.

The four businesses battling it out are Castle Point Gas and Heating, Church Road, Thundersley; Stafford Court residential care home for the elderly, Venables Close, Canvey; Elevation Lift Services, High Street, Hadleigh; and plastic producing firm HSM Services, of Charfleets Industrial Estate, Canvey.

The winner will be chosen by the mayor Beverley Egan and announced at her Civic Dinner on April 26. She said: "I have been to see all four shortlisted businesses and they are all fantastic examples of business excellence, it is going to be a tough decision to make."