Ribble Valley husband-and-wife team Brian Jones and Julie Green-Jones were both winners at the "Be Inspired Business Awards" – Lancashire's most prestigious business awards.

Julie is managing director of "Rossendales", an enforcement and debt collection business. At this year's "BIBAs" she won both the Leadership of the Year prize and Business Woman of the Year.

Meanwhile, her husband Brian's Blackburn-based "BCP Fluted Packaging" was named Creative Business of the Year.

The couple, who live in Waddington, were among almost 900 businesses competing for honours from across Lancashire.

Julie said: "Winning the awards for my business was special, but for Brian to win an award for his company, too, made it a night to remember. The BIBAs are widely regarded as the county's business Oscars and the calibre of entries in each category was impressive; we were honoured simply to be among them."

Julie led a management buyout of the Rawtenstall-based company two years ago and has gone on to make it one of Rossendale's largest private employers. It employs more than 370 staff and works for more than 150 local authorities nationwide.

She added: "I was particularly proud of the Leadership Team award, because I believe at Rossendales we have a great team who are helping to shape and develop the success of the business."

Speaking of his award, Brian said: "It is quite a surprise for a packaging company to win an award. We are quite a small business and, in this market place, to be recognised by our peers like this is quite something!"