FOOD-LOVING members of the public can nominate their favourite restaurants, pubs and cafés from across Cornwall for The Good Food Guide Readers' Restaurant of the Year awards.

The esteemed awards champion local eateries and recognise great food and good service from across the UK, with the criteria that restaurants must be independently run and offer regional or local produce where possible.

Ten regional winners will be announced from the public nominations before The Good Food Guide judges crown their overall Readers' Restaurant of the Year 2012.

Diners in the South West can nominate their favourite restaurants online at www.thegoodfoodguide.co.uk/awards or by sending in a postcard, available in restaurants until April 23.

Everyone who submits a nomination will be automatically entered into a free prize draw for a meal for two.

Last year's awards saw more than 27,500 members of the public nominating their favourite restaurants, with The Mill Tea & Dining Room in Lyme Regis winning the crown of The Good Food Guide Readers' Restaurant of the Year for the South West.

Elizabeth Carter, consultant editor of The Good Food Guide, said: "The Restaurant of the Year awards are a fantastic way to support local businesses in recognising great cooking and service at neighbourhood eateries across the UK. We really look forward to diners in the South West getting behind their local restaurants and telling us about the places where they really love to eat in the region."

The ten regional winners will be announced at the end of May and the overall winner of The Good Food Guide Readers' Restaurant of the Year award will be announced in late June.