BOURNEMOUTH Tourism beat off stiff competition from Easyjet and Thomas Cook to win two national awards for its Bournemouth vs California viral video.

The team came first in the Digital Campaign of the Year category at the Travel Marketing Awards 2014 at Grosvenor House in London with Easyjet and Thomas Cook in second and third place respectively.

On the same night Bournemouth Tourism was presented with Best Public Sector Campaign of the Year for the same video at the National PR Golden Hedgehog Awards in London.

The playful adaptation of Visit California’s Misconceptions TV advertisement went head to head with The Royal Mint, The Red Web Consultancy, Hope&Glory and the New Forest National Park Authority.

Sara Uzzell, chairman of the Bournemouth Tourism Marketing Group, said: “We are thrilled that we have been recognised for our efforts.”

To date the video, which features local celebrities Harry Redknapp and Alex James, has attracted 123,999 views on YouTube.