A GROUP of food magazine journalists and a nationally renowned chef have enjoyed a whistle-stop tour of the North-East, tasting some of the best food the region has to offer.

The group, including Newcastle chef Terry Laybourne, travelled in a helicopter and visited Hartlepool, Darlington and Northumberland to taste some of the specialities on offer.

At about 4.30pm on Tuesday, the helicopter touched down at Burtree House Farm, near Darlington.

The farm, run by Robert and Lea Darling, has been named supreme champion at the Guild of Fine Food Retailers Great Taste awards. The couple picked up another three awards at the event.

The journalists and Mr Laybourne, who is a Michelin-starred chef, tasted the farm's sticky toffee pudding and a home-cooked chicken.

Mrs Darling said: "We took them for a walk around the farm and stood for a long time with the turkeys.

"The turkeys are free range and have been recommended by Nigella Lawson and Delia Smith for Christmas. It was interesting to have them all here. It is all quite an accolade and it shows good food is produced in the North-East."

Mr and Mrs Darling began selling free-range chickens and eggs from the farm shop to diversify during the foot-and-mouth crisis, a part of the business that has grown since then. The group also saw the farm's guinea fowls.

The group also visited fish supplier W Hodgson, in Hartlepool, and organic lamb and beef farm Monkridge Hill Farm, kipper supplier L Robson and Sons, and the Alnwick Garden treehouse, all in Northumberland.