Twenty-three pubs in south Norfolk have been picked by the public to go through to the semi-final stage of this year's South Norfolk Council Community Pub of the Year Award.

Twenty-three pubs in south Norfolk have been picked by the public to go through to the semi-final stage of this year's South Norfolk Council Community Pub of the Year Award.

Last year's winner, the Pelican Inn in Tacolneston, a 16th century former coaching inn, is among the 23, and landlady Esther Maginn said winning the award in 2009 had boosted trade.

Miss Maginn said: 'To be named as community pub of the year has been fantastic.

'The award has raised challenges of how our pub can improve for the benefit of the community which can only be a wonderful thing.

'Being recognised for our innovative ideas in business has been inspiring. We have improved our game, again this year.'

The awards are being held for the second year and the top prize is �1,000 for a community event,

South Norfolk council's deputy leader Martin Wilby, who is on the judging panel overseeing proceedings, said: 'The top pubs from each of the council's five neighbourhood areas now go through to a semi-final, where the public will get another chance to have their say.'

Each of the 23 finalists will again have ballot boxes ready for voting, and the scores from the previous rounds will then be added to the judges' scores. The pub with the best overall score will be crowned as South Norfolk's Community Pub of the Year.

The regional semi-finalists are: Eastern River Valleys: Coldham Hall Tavern, Surlingham; Duke of York, Norwich Road, Ditchingham; Ferry House, Ferry Road, Surlingham; Kings Head, Norwich Road, Brooke; New Inn, New Inn Road, Rockland St Mary.

Northern River Valleys: Kings Head, Harts Lane, Bawburgh; Marlingford Bell, Bawburgh Road, Marlingford; World's End, Norwich Road, Mulbarton.

Tas Valley: The Countryman, Ipswich Road, Tasburgh; Fox and Hounds, Frith Way, Great Moulton; Greyhound, The Street, Tibenham; Kings Head, Hempnall Road, Woodton; Queens Head, The Street, Long Stratton.

Waveney Valley: The Bell, High Road, Wortwell; The Burston Crown, Crown Green, Burston; Crossways Inn, Bridge Road, Scole; The Crown, St Nicholas Street, Diss; The Old Ram, Ipswich Road, Tivetshall St Mary.

Wymondham & West: The Cherry Tree, High Street, Wicklewood; Green Dragon, Church Street, Wymondham; Kings Head, Norwich Road, Ashwellthorpe; The Pelican, Norwich Road, Tacolneston; Three Boars, Bunwell Road, Spooner Row.