A Sidmouth man who makes health products using seaweed he collects from the Devon coastline has been recognised twice with a prestigious award and a £1,000 grant.

Sidmouth Herald: The products Tony makes with the seaweed he uses.The products Tony makes with the seaweed he uses. (Image: Archant)

Tony Coulson, of Woolbrook Road, launched Ebb Tides in May and was this week awarded a silver accolade at the Food and Drink Devon awards held at the Deer Park in Honiton - and was also been gifted a grant by Invest Devon, run by the county council.

The 58-year-old, who makes products using dried seaweed, which is good as a salt supplement, plans to use the money for an exhibit at the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham between November 24 and 27.

“I was thrilled when I found out I had been awarded the grant. It is a new business and much welcome,” Tony said.

“It is a high-profile event and buyers will also be there, so it will give me the opportunity to talk to them and get my products more widely distributed. I also plan to use the opportunity to talk about what a great place Devon is for businesses.”

Sidmouth Herald: Tony Coulson collecting seaweed.Tony Coulson collecting seaweed. (Image: Archant)

Tony currently offers three products to be used as seasoning like salt and pepper - kelp, which has a savoury taste; dulse - that has a rich and smokey flavour; and seasalad - which is a unique mix of four different seaweeds which creates a marine-flavoured seasoning good for fish, eggs and to bake with.

Tony said including seaweed in your diet has numerous health benefits, many of which he has experienced first-hand.

He believes that kelp is particularly good for weight loss - not only great for helping to prevent the body from absorbing fats by up to 30 per cent, but also for hydrating the stomach, giving a feeling of being full and helping to regulate the metabolism.

Visit ebbtides.co.uk