Fifty companies are lining up for this year's Bicester Business Awards, with 110 nominations -- three times the level of entries for a similar competition held annually in Banbury.

Organisers said the success of the awards, in their inaugural year, was due to the enthusiastic support of the town's Chamber of Commerce, Business Breakfast Club members, the Oxford Mail and its sister paper the Bicester Advertiser, and the 13 sponsors.

Louise Spracking, of VASolutions, who has been receiving all the entries, said: "I've been overwhelmed by the response.

"Just four days before the September 30 deadline we had 78 entries, and four days later the figure had exceeded 110.

She added: "Entries have come from individual members of the community as well as companies themselves."

Seventeen companies will battle it out to be named Business of the Year, sponsored by Cherwell District Council.

The chairman of the judging panel, Colin Skinner of Barclays Bank, said: "This demonstrates that Bicester is a strong and vibrant business community and has largely been hiding its light under a bushel."

The awards ceremony takes place at The Great Barn, in Upper Aynho Grounds, Aynho, on Wednesday, October 30.

Presentations will be made by athlete Kriss Akabusi, with the event hosted by TV personality Anne Dawson.