Five entrepreneurs have claimed a share of prizes worth thousands of pounds under the Essex BIG Business Boost Awards.

The competition was launched by Essex County Council’s Essex Innovation Programme to support and celebrate the county’s most exciting small businesses.

The winners, who were announced during a ceremony at the Pontlands Park Hotel in Chelmsford, will each receive a prize package worth more than £2,000 to help them develop their businesses further.

The flagship BIG Business Boost Award went to Chris Forbes and Julie Chen of Billericay for The Cheeky Panda, which producers environmentally-friendly bamboo toilet tissue.

Two prizes went to entrepreneurs from the Uttlesford district, with Justin Ott of Spark picking up the Young Entrepreneur Award for an app extending the range of electric cars and knitwear designer Genevieve Smart of Genevieve Sweeney receiving the Women in Business Award.

And two prizes were awarded in the Disability Entrepreneur category, to Chelmsford-based Zoe Cain-Tyler of Culvercroft Equestrian, who is taking horse riding into people’s homes via technology, and Chelsey Reynolds from Braintree for Travel Able, an app to improve the travel experience on public transport for people with a disability.

Kevin Bentley, deputy leader of Essex County Council and cabinet member for economic growth and partnerships, said: “Essex is a hotbed of entrepreneurship, and we have much to be proud of. We are committed to supporting local businesses and helping them to achieve growth and success in every way we can.”