Puxton Park tourist attraction outside Weston-super-Mare has been presented an award of excellence after only one full season.

The farm-based attraction off the A370 has won a silver highly commended placing in the annual awards run by the resort's Hotels and Restaurants Association.

Puxton Park owners, the Mead Group, say they are not only thrilled but surprised such success has come so quickly.

Managing director Alistair Mead said the announcement had come out of the blue.

He said: "Everyone has been working terrifically hard to make Puxton Park the success it undoubtedly is, but to collect an award like this so early in its life is really remarkable.

"Usually new attractions start off with a bronze and work their way up, but we've managed to leapfrog over all the lower categories. It really is a measure of the dedication and sheer effort of all our staff that we have established Puxton Park's credentials so rapidly.

"But that's not to say we aren't going to try even harder next year."

Puxton Park was created on bare farmland and transformed with 4,500 newly planted trees.

Its popularity has grown rapidly since it opened in 2007, with thousands of visitors pouring in weekly to enjoy entertainment and education.

The site has a working organic milking parlour with a viewing gallery, indoor and outdoor play areas for children, nature trails, a restaurant serving locally produced food and one of the biggest regional food halls in the South West.