Pictured: The Best Western Stoke-on-Trent Moat House hotel 

Four Staffordshire tourism businesses are celebrating success after winning Staffordshire Environmental Quality Marque (SEQM) accreditation.

Following the launch of the Staffordshire Environmental Quality Mark (SEQM) earlier this year, four more Staffordshire tourism businesses have been awarded the prestigious accolade. The SEQM is awarded to tourism businesses which help to conserve and enhance the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Staffordshire, as well as minimise the local and global environmental impact of their business.

Colton House in Colton, near Rugeley, has added the SEQM accreditation to its impressive list of accolades, which include five star guest house certification, a breakfast award from the AA, a five star guest house award, gold award and a breakfast award from the Enjoy England national tourist board. As well as reducing its impact on the environment in the hotel, the business buys its food and drink produce locally wherever possible, with eggs, honey and jam coming from the village, sausages, bacon and other meat items supplied locally.

The SEQM was granted to Foxtwood Cottages, in Froghall near Cheadle for its thorough environmental policy. Each self-catering cottage is equipped with numerous energy-saving devices to drive down costs and protect the environment, whilst guests are encouraged to use local food producers.

Dalraddy Cottage on the edge of Cannock Chase has also recently gained accreditation, with its enviable location within the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty inextricably linking the cottage to its local environment.

The Best Western Stoke-on-Trent Moat House hotel received SEQM accreditation for its measures to improve energy conservation and help guests make environmentally-conscious choices when visiting the county.

Graeme Whitehead, Enjoy Staffordshire's group manager for tourism and marketing, commented: "Staffordshire's accommodation providers are great ambassadors for the county, and show a high level of commitment to reducing their impact on the environment. These awards and accreditations demonstrate to customers that they are high quality establishments that can be trusted, and they should all be very proud of their achievements."

Seven Staffordshire businesses are now officially SEQM accredited, with five of these businesses in the accommodation sector.