TWO stalwarts of the Ayr business community have been honoured as part of a trio of awards for their dessert shop.

Silvio and Linda Galli were presented with Outstanding Achievement Awards at the recent Scottish Italian Awards.

The couple's business, Renaldo's, also picked up Highly Recommended awards for Best Gelataria/Dessert Cafe and Best Family Run Business.

It comes after the business picked up the Best Dessert Shop gong at the Ayrshire regional edition of Scotland's Business Awards earlier this year.

The landmark shop has been at the top of the Sandgate since the 1920s, then known as the Wellington Cafe.

It has been passed through generations of Italians for decades and is now being successfully run by its current owners. 

Silvio admits the pair were shocked when they found out they were receiving the special recognition awards. 

He said: "We are absolutely delighted, although we thought we were a wee bit young to be getting these kinds of awards. 

"It was a complete surprise and we didn't have a clue because one of our team members actually put us forward for it. 

"We were shocked but it's a wonderful accolade for us after all our hard work over the years since we took over in 1987. 

"We took over when it was just a gift shop selling buckets and spades, but we have diversified over the years to reach where we are today."

Linda has praised her staff for their hard work to win the other two awards, which she says are testament to the successful operation run at the Sandgate premises. 

She said: "The other two awards are fantastic to get, and we couldn't do it without our staff team.

"The Italian Awards are such a pleasure to go to and the energy in the room is just fantastic all evening.

"Now we've got to keep going and look forward to Christmas, and preparations are well under way now.

"Over the festive period I will make around 130,000 chocolates, and we get people coming from all over to buy them."

Alongside Renaldo's, fellow businesses Aldente and Cecchini's were honoured at the glittering ceremony.

Silvio believes the honours show that the town is thriving, and says there's lots to be positive about in Ayr.

He added: "All of the restaurants in Ayr are exceptional, and the bars have now started introducing live music regularly.

"All of the shops are brilliant, and Newmarket Street in particular is beautiful, especially at night.

"Every shop is offering something individual, and that's what I think the town needs more of these days. 

"Hopefully Ayr can continue to get better and awards like these and for our fellow businesses can only help that."