THE National Railway Museum (NRM) in York has been named as the best large visitor attraction in the region in the White Rose Awards for tourism.

Pickering Tourist Information Centre(TIC), accommodation providers Shallowdale House, Ampleforth, and Shoreline Cottages, Whitby, also emerged as winners in the Yorkshire Tourist Board annual awards.

The accolades were handed out at a gala ceremony, touted as the "Oscars" of the region's tourist industry, at Elland Road, in Leeds, last night.

Robert Walker, of the NRM, said staff were "absolutely delighted" with the award which came as a complete surprise, despite a very successful year with attendance up by 30 per cent.

He said: "Everyone who comes to the museum experiences the highest quality. We are the largest railway museum in the world and we have standards to maintain."

David Andrews, chief executive of Yorkshire Tourist Board, said competition is always fierce for the awards, but every finalist exhibited "quality to be admired".

He said: "The quality of our region's tourism product has been highlighted by all of last night's winners."

Guest of honour, sport and tourism minister Richard Caborn, said: "Quality is key to a successful tourism business and a thriving tourism industry."

The NRM was named large visitor attraction of the year, while Pickering TIC landed tourist information centre of the year, Shallowdale House was labelled guest accommodation of the year and Shoreline Cottages were celebrated as self-catering holiday of the year.

All three now go forward to the national Excellence in England Awards to be announced in the Spring.

The other winners were: Large Hotel of the Year, De Vere Oulton Hall, Leeds; Small Hotel of the Year, Swinton Park, Masham; Caravan Park of the Year, Far Grange Caravan Park, Skipsea; Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, Thackray Museum, Leeds; Tourism Website of the Year, Harewood House Trust, Leeds; Tourism for All, National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield; Conference Venue of the Year, National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, Bradford; Best Newcomer to Tourism, The Deep, Hull; Local Food and Drink in Tourism Award, Clow Beck House, Croft on Tees; Outstanding Customer Service Award, Karen Slater, Swinton Park, Masham.

Updated: 10:56 Friday, September 19, 2003