STAFF at Yorkshire's most famous tea and buns business were celebrating today after scooping a top award from the Queen.

Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate is among the first winners of the sustainable development category in the annual Queen's Awards for Enterprise.

Only a few dozen winners were chosen after thousands of businesses across the country were examined using stringent criteria.

Bettys and Taylors was acknowledged for its commitment to staff training, support for local schools and charities, and its Trees for Life appeal, which has funded the planting of more than two million trees around the world over 11 years.

Jessica Ambler, of Bettys and Taylors, said: "We are really thrilled with the award. We are honoured and privileged to have been chosen, particularly as we are a small, family business. It means a lot to us."

Department store chain Debenhams, which has a branch in Davygate, York, won a Queen's Award for Enterprise for innovation for its wedding service. And Wetherby-based software development company Easysoft has been awarded a Queen's Award for Enterprise in recognition of its radical approach to product development.

Updated: 11:06 Saturday, April 21, 2001