A CHEESE company is celebrating after scooping a silver medal at a prestigious awards.

The Swaledale Cheese Company, based in Richmond, took the silver award for its Swaledale Sheep's Cheese at the Artisan Cheese Awards.

The annual awards, held in Melton Mowbray, saw 500 cheeses entered from 117 cheese makers and judged by a panel of industry experts.

Sam Reed, co-director of the Swaledale Cheese Company, said: "We are very pleased to have received a silver award for the sheep’s cheese. It’s always a real boost when your hard work and efforts are recognised with an award – especially when it’s judged by the top cheese makers in the country. This is our first batch of sheep’s cheese for the season so a great way for us to promote Swaledale Sheep’s Cheese."

The company was set up in 1987 by husband and wife team David and Mandy Reed and is now run by their children Sam and Louise.

Visit www.swaledalecheese.co.uk.