ESSEX has become a national award-winning destination to visit on the web.

Visit Essex, an official tourism organisation, beat competition from East Anglia and the South East, to bag an award for Tourism and Hospitality, in the first-ever Digital Awards Champions event.

Visit Essex is the official tourism organisation for the county and the only body specifically marketing Greater Essex to the visitor market.

Lisa Bone, Tourism Manager at Visit Essex said: “Digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and, of course, the Visit Essex website play an absolutely vital role in helping our team to promote Essex to the wider public, both at home and abroad.

“In the past twelve months we have worked very hard to make sure that our digital ‘offer’ is engaging, fun and a true resource for visitors and local residents alike.

“So it is very satisfying for our efforts to be acknowledged and Visit Essex to become one of the very first Digital Awards champions. We are delighted”

At a reception hosted by Robin Bailey, from the Digital Awards team, businesses, charities, schools and other community organisations that successfully use web-based platforms to market themselves were unveiled and celebrated.

Mr Bailey said: “The Digital Awards champions has showcased so many fantastic examples of the superb digital talent across the region.

“So many great success stories were brought together, along with brilliant winners chosen by the people, what an outstanding accolade it is to become a Digital Awards champion!”

The Digital Awards Champions event is a contest which is voted for by the public.

During a six-week period, some 20,000 people cast their votes, with Visit Essex taking one of the Gold Awards in Essex and therefore qualifying for the London finals.