A KIDDERMINSTER-based opthalmic lenses manufacturer has been crowned one of the winners in the West Midlands heats of the British Chamber Business Awards.

Vision Labs Limited won the Commitment to People Development award, following their category win in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber Business Awards in June.

The company. based in Foley Park, will now go forward to represent the West Midlands in the National Finals, which take place in London in November.

In total, five Worcestershire businesses won awards for the West Midlands. Now in their 13th year, the awards are a highlight of the business calendar and pay tribute to the key role local businesses play in driving the UK economy.

Mike Ashton, chief executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: "I am delighted that five winners from the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards have gone on to win the award for the West Midlands in their category.

"In 2015, two Worcestershire businesses were runners-up in the British Chamber Business Awards and in 2014, Worcester-based Titania won the Small Business of the Year award, becoming a national winner.

"The Chamber Business Awards are the perfect opportunity to celebrate our business community's achievements, to take stock of the outstanding performances of local companies and to inspire others to follow in their footsteps - I look forward to seeing our county's businesses represented on the national stage in November and I wish all five companies the best of luck."