TIME is running out to pick the best from the rest, in the Suffolk Pub of the Year Awards 2003.The voting deadline is approaching as fast as last orders on a good night out so now is the time to make your voice heard.

TIME is running out to pick the best from the rest, in the Suffolk Pub of the Year Awards 2003.

The voting deadline is approaching as fast as last orders on a good night out so now is the time to make your voice heard.

Just five days remain for you to cast your precious vote before the bell tolls at midnight on November 3.

Competition is still very tight with the leading contenders in each of our 11 categories separated by only a handful of votes.

The George Inn at Hintlesham is hoping to scoop an award in at least one of the six categories customers have nominated them for.

It is up for Best Village or Country Pub, Best Food Pub, Best Family Pub, Best Real Ale Pub, Best Music or Live Entertainment Pub and for Best Landlord or Landlady.

Landlord Neil Sands would especially like to top one category. He said: "It would be quite cool to win Best Landlord as I am retiring from the pub trade in January after eight and a half years here at the George and 24 years' service in Suffolk.

"We have always been a friendly pub with good service and have raised thousands of pounds for charity."

Although he has not been pressuring customers into voting, the ex-professional wrestler joked that he "would beat them up if they didn't."

Last year we won one award and were runners up in another category.

The finalists will be profiled in a special supplement with news from the sponsors Pubmaster, Adnams and Ridley's to be published on November 10.

Whether it is a lively town pub, a peaceful local in beautiful scenery, or a favourite place to eat or watch football, your choice should neatly slot into at least one of our 11 categories.

And there are three different ways to cast your vote so giving us your opinion could not be simpler.

1. Votes can be cast by just picking up the phone. Dial the number of the category you think your pub should win and then key in the four-digit code for the pub from the list provided.

2. You can text us your favourite pub by sending the key words for each category and the code attributed to the pub to 84070.

Both phone methods cost just 25p.

3. Alternatively you can complete the form below, giving a reason for your vote, and send back to us in the post. Your comments will be taken into consideration and may help sway the judges' opinion in the final round.

N Landlords can still get hold of our Pub of the Year posters to remind customers to vote by calling Ben Collins on 01473 324844.