IT was a night to remember - one of emotion, drama and celebration.

And this was clear from the very first award presented.

Mary Mackenzie was shortlisted for Employee of the Year after helping run the School of Sign Language while her boss battled a life-threatening illness.

As presenter Dianne Oxberry talked about the award, her colleagues from the School of Sign Language put their arms in the air with fingers crossed.

They were jubilant as she was announced as the winner but Mary's expression was a picture. She was absolutely stunned.

The emotion of the victory, coming after such a testing year for staff at the School of Sign Language, was apparent to every guest at Ewood Park, the home of Blackburn Rovers, as Mary collected her prize.

Afterwards, she said: "I just cannot believe I have won. I am so proud".

The glittering ceremony was attended by some of the most powerful figures in East Lancashire. Blackburn MP and Justice Secretary Jack Straw, Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams and chief executive of the Northwest Development Agency Steven Broomhead were just some of the figures present.

The suite in Ewood Park looked stunning, swathed in a blue glow, set off by white table cloth and chair covers and sparkling glasses and cutlery.

And four glamorous hostesses added to the atmosphere, as did BBC TV presenter Dianne Oxberry who was compere for the night.

But the most important guests were the 350 business representatives, who were there as the cream of the crop, the captains of East Lancashire industry.

At the start of the evening the guests, dressed in tuxedos and evening dresses, read through the souvenir programme over a champagne reception researching who their company was up against.They were then escorted into the blue starlit room for the culmination to this year's Lancashire Telegraph Business Awards.

Lancashire Telegraph editor Kevin Young told guests: "The quality of entrants this year was higher than ever.

"I think you are in for a real treat to listen to some of the explanations behind our key contenders."

The conversation flowed along with the wine, and the guests, who had been tense in anticipation of the winners being announced, began to relax.

An after dinner speech by former Burnley footballer and ex-Coventry City chief executive, Paul Fletcher, had the audience in fits of laughter as he recalled memories from his footballing career.

One of the best tales he told was of the day he signed for Burnley for a record £66,000 and excitedly went to negotiate a contract with chairman Bob Lord.

He said: "He was 65 years old and deaf as a post. He leaned across the boardroom and said you are on £80-a-week with £50 extra if we win. And if you don't score 20 goals a season you will be right back to Bolton'.

"He then said have you got anything to say', before taking his hearing aid out.

"I signed on the dotted line, as I signed I muttered under my breath you crafty old bugger'. He then said: you'll enjoy it at Burnley. Score lots of goals, stay out of bother and never call the chairman a crafty old bugger again!".

After the laughs it was down to business as the main event of the evening kicked off.

Dianne Oxberry arrived fresh from her work for BBC's Children In Need and appeared on stage to a round of applause ready to present the 11 awards.

Almost immediately, the relaxed atmosphere of moments before was lost to tension once more.

After the first presentation to Mary Mackenzie, the evening led up to the main prize of Business of the Year.

Winners were presented with their trophies by category sponsors before being whisked away to be photographed.

Staff from Business of the Year MDA erupted like the Rovers crowd when a goal is scored in the nearby Blackburn End when Diane announced they had taken the top prize.

Staff from Daisy Communications, which had been shortlisted, rose to applaud MDA, despite losing out themselves.

It was a nice moment which summed up the camaraderie and friendship between East Lancashire business.

After the formalities of the presentations guests let their hair down with many partying on until the early hours of the morning.

And the overwhealming feeling at the end was of how many fantastic businesses they are in East Lancashire - and not just the winners but all those businesses shortlisted.

Dianne Oxberry said the rest of the country should "sit up and take notice" of the talent and innovation typified by this year's award winners .

Dianne, who was hosting the awards for the fourth time, said: "Everytime I do this I'm always surprised when I read about the shortlisted companies. Why haven't they been on TV or in the news for what they are doing?

"There is ground-breaking work going on and it should be known about outside of the area.

"Some of the examples set companies up for the Environment Award is fantastic, such as having all staff using public transport.

"The rest of the country should be more aware of what goes on in East Lancashire."

Kevin Young, editor of the Lancashire Telegraph said: "There has been a lot of talk over the last few years about the decline of manufacturing but we employ twice the national average which is something we should be proud off.

"There is a lot of big businesses in East Lancashire but there are many companies that are just as important at the other end of the scale.

"Each year we hear stories that really amaze us and this year was no exception.

"Once again it has been a brilliant evening and a fantastic way of rewarding companies and individuals."