THREE East Lancashire companies have been recognised by the Queen in her national business awards scheme.

The successful firms have each received Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2004.

BMP Europe Ltd of Altham and Brisbane Moss Corduroys of Todmorden won in the International Trade category, while Panaz Ltd, of Fence, was recognised in the Innovation category.

Brisbane Moss Corduroys, which employs just eight people, is the only manufacturer of corduroy and moleskin materials left in the UK and exports to countries all over the world. All its domestic competitors have been forced out of business in the past 30 years.

A spokesman for the company said: "We are pleased to be among the winners of the Queen's Awards. We would like to offer sincere thanks to our staff, suppliers and customers for helping us to achieve this prestigious award."

BMP Europe, in Shorten Brook Drive, Altham Business Park, employs 110 people and manufactures components and assemblies for office equipment.

It started trading in 1984 and specialises in exporting with its products going to Eastern Europe, USA and Australia.

The company has met competition from low-cost manufacturers in Asia. It has established an assembly centre and manufacturing and assembly operation in China.

Panaz Ltd, in Spring Mill, Fence, won the innovation award for creating a new upholstery fabric called Panvelle, which is used for furnishing hospitals, hotels and restaurants. It is an anti-bacterial fabric, combating the spread of harmful bacteria like hospital superbug MRSA and E-Coli, and is waterproof and breathable.

Managing and design director, Tony Attard, who formed Panaz in 1986, said: "This represents the highest acknowledgement of our commitments towards innovation. We have proved that, even in traditional industries like textiles, there is a need to develop new products to satisfy international safety and durability demands."

And Blackburn man Keith Hutchinson was celebrating when his company b+h Polymers also won an award in the International Trade category.

Keith, 68, was born and educated in Blackburn, attending St Mary's College, and grew up in Catterall Street, Ewood.

His family-owned company, based in Leigh, makes plastic bottles for some of the biggest drinks manufacturers in the world and last year had a turnover of £62million.

A total of 112 companies out of 737 applications were recognised in the awards this year, which have been running since 2000.