A FARM has proved it is streaks ahead of the rest when it comes to bringing home the bacon.

For bacon produced by Tracy and Matthew Betney, of Hummerbeck, West Auckland, County Durham has been named as the Best of British in a round of national awards.

The entry from Broom Mill Farm won first prize in the Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards 2002 in the bacon category.

It is quite an achievement for the couple, who have been producing pork products to sell at farmers' markets and agricultural shows for less than two years.

Mr and Mrs Betney had to diversify their business after the farm's complete pig stock was culled during last year's foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Mrs Betney said: "We didn't want to just give up because we have a customer base and we didn't want to let them down.

"We hope to expand soon because there is a big demand for products like ours in the London hotels. Winning this award means our bacon will be more in demand. It gives us kudos.

"It was wonderful to win the award and our recipes are now a trade secret."

The couple will take part in another awards ceremony in London next month.