Tenby has scooped a Bronze Award against strong national competition at the British Travel Awards in the Best UK Coastal Resort category.

The 2013 results were announced recently at a glamorous Hallowe'en Night Gala Awards Dinner held at Battersea Evolution in London and attended by close to a thousand travel industry people.

The British Travel Awards are acknowledged as the most definitive and largest monitor of public opinion on the performance of travel and tourism providers.

Travel companies and tourism organisations were invited to register for listing in the various categories; a shortlist was then drawn up by a panel of respected individuals from both in and outside of the travel industry, but it is the leisure holidaymakers whose votes finally determine the winners.

Delighted with the accolade, Alan Turner, tourism marketing and development manager, at Pembrokeshire County Council, said: "We're honoured to have won this prestigious award for Tenby and are hugely grateful to all those who took the trouble to vote for us.

"This is well deserved recognition for all the hard work our tourism businesses have put in over the last few years to develop first class accommodation, attractions and visitor services in Tenby."

The British Travel Awards are widely considered to be the 'Oscars' of the travel industry.

BTA's chief executive, Lorraine Barnes Burton, said: "This year more than one million votes were cast by consumers to determine the winners of the coveted British Travel Awards - making it the largest awards programme in the UK; to win is truly an accolade.

"The travelling public regards the British Travel Awards winners' logo as the benchmark for excellence when it comes to finding out which really are the best travel destinations and Tenby is to be congratulated on its achievement in an awards programme which garners the opinions of the nation - these finalists and winners really are the best in travel," she added.

Speaking following the announcement, Clr. Mike Evans told his colleagues at a meeting of Tenby Town Council this week, that he was delighted to see Tenby pop up at number three in such a massive awards ceremony.

Clr. David Pugh, cabinet member for the economy and tourism, said he was delighted at the win.

"Tenby is the jewel in our tourism crown and thoroughly deserves this prize," he said.

"It is well deserved recognition for all the hard work and effort that tourism businesses have put in over the years to create such a first class resort."

Bournemouth won the Best UK Coastal resort category, with Looe as runner-up.