INDUSTRY leaders have celebrated the East of England's creative talents at an awards event hosted by TV presenter Clive Anderson. Among this year's winners at the Creative East Awards, attended by more than 400 business leaders and guests, was a book about the commercial life of Framlingham at the start of the 20th century by Poppyland Publishing, based at Cromer.

INDUSTRY leaders have celebrated the East of England's creative talents at an awards event hosted by TV presenter Clive Anderson.

Among this year's winners at the Creative East Awards, attended by more than 400 business leaders and guests, was a book about the commercial life of Framlingham at the start of the 20th century by Poppyland Publishing, based at Cromer.

BBC TV East also scooped an award for its professional development and training, and BBC Essex lifted the Best Radio Programme title for one of its productions, Inside at Christmas.

The event, which took place on Thursday , was followed by an after show dinner at the newly-refurbished Theatre Royal in Norwich.

Now in its second year as a regional event, the awards attracted nearly double the number of entries for the 16 categories, from the six counties which make up the eastern region.

Awards organisers say the region is the biggest creative hub outside of London, with more than 17,000 businesses registered.

Richard Cox, director of the awards, praised the strength of the industry and the support for the event by business leaders and agencies including the East of England Development Agency and the Subregional Economic Partnerships.

“The prime purpose of the awards is to show that the eastern region is a major and growing hub,” he said.

“The wide variety and high quality of work on display during the evening clearly demonstrated the breadth of our expanding creative industries.”

Poppyland Publishing, which scooped the Best Factual Publication award, was presented with its prize by John Fry, chief executive of Archant, owner of the East Anglian Daily Times.

Judges praised the research which had gone into its publication, The Commercial Life of a Suffolk Town - Framlingham around 1900. They also praised the quality and clarity of the layout and the context in which it was presented.

Peter Stibbons of Poppyland Publishing said: “We are delighted to receive this award. We look for authors who have undertaken detailed and original research to help us understand and enjoy our East Anglian heritage and recognition of this sort with entries from across the region is very encouraging.”

The winners were: Best Graphic Design, the District From Cambridge for The Junction; Best Commercial Photography, Harrington Photography, Mike Harrington from Norwich; Best Animation Production: Soup Ltd, Mat Denney of Norwich; Best Professional Development and Training, BBC TV East, Lisa Collins; Best Exclusive Story: Basildon Echo, Jon Austin; Best Film/TV Location: Ely Cathedral for Elizabeth the Golden Age; Best Non-Broadcast Production, Great Takes TV of Norwich­ - Birthmark; Best Broadcast Production: Granada, Living With Half a Brain; Best Design Innovation: Fresh Pod, based in Thetford; Best Web Design, BGD Group, Proton Cars; Best Film, Justin Coleman, Blood On His Hands; Best Radio Programme, BBC Essex, Inside at Christmas; Best Advertising Campaign, The Works, of Norwich, Big Three; Best Creative Campaign: MC+Co, Ongar, Martin Cerulli; Best Architecture Design in the region, Fielden & Mawson, Family Life Centre; Best Factual Publication, Poppyland Publishing of Cromer.