Pickering farmer and business owner Karl Avison is celebrating after reaching the final of a regional business excellence award.

Mr Avison, of Cedarbarn Farm Shop and Café, has been shortlisted in the Rob Burrow Outstanding Contribution to Charity Award at the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards.

He was nominated after becoming the first person ever to compete for a second time in the Macmillan Ride of Their Lives, which sees amateur jockeys compete in a horse race to raise funds for the cancer charity.

£40,000 was raised by Mr Avison for Macmillan, following his own battle with cancer.

There will be competition from Yorkshire Garden Centres, Gripple Ltd, Regal Food Group, RJC Plant Services, and Rob Northfield in the awards finals, which are to be hosted at Headingley Stadium, on November 21.

The family of the award's namesake, Rob Burrow, will be in attendance on the evening, and will present the trophy to the winner.