THE search to find the top companies and individuals in the county's business community will end tonight at a glittering awards ceremony.

The Oxfordshire Business Awards take place at the Four Pillars Hotel, Sandford, tonight, with organisers anticipating the biggest and best event in the competition's history.

Up to 500 people are expected to attend, with many hoping to pick up one of the coveted awards, or to be in with a chance of being named the Oxfordshire Business of the Year or the Oxfordshire Business Person of the Year.

Those on the shortlist range from large organisations such as builder's merchant Buildbase in Cowley and Abingdon-based information technology company RM to smaller concerns such as the Fallowfields Country House Hotel in Kingston Bagpuize, which has been shortlisted in the Hospitality and Leisure category.

The Charity and Community award, sponsored by The Oxford Times, has been hotly contested, with the shortlist made up of Oxford Inspires, the Banbury and District Community Bus and the Chipping Norton Lido.

Awards chairman Paul Lowe said: "We are looking forward to a fantastic evening, which promises to be a real celebration of the Oxfordshire business community."

The results will be available from midnight tonight on www.oxfordtimes.co.uk.