HELMSLEY businesses are celebrating after being named among the top 100 small businesses in the UK.

Independent art gallery Bils & Rye and fish and chip shop Scotts of Helmsley have both been listed in Small Business Saturday UK's Small Biz 100, celebrating small businesses across the country.

Bils & Rye, which showcases the work of some 70 artists, is run by Nick Bentley who founded the gallery along with his wife, Kate.

Nick said that he was thrilled the gallery has made it in to the top 100 as starting it gave him the chance to get back in to employment after a long period of poor health.

He said: "Self-employment was my only realistic option after a long period of ill health and it has given me the freedom to develop new skills and give back to the society that supported me through hard times."

The small business campaign will hold an official day dedicated to celebrating small businesses on December 5.

Tony Webster, from Scotts of Helmsley, said that Small Business Saturday gave local businesses the chance to promote what they do and why small businesses are so important to the area.

He said: "Small Business Saturday has been part of our local December activities for the last two years. It is a great way to shout about small businesses and to increase the profile of small businesses and their importance to the economy and local communities."