A FAMILY-run farm which offers tours and meat products associated with the Wild West is set to compete against the country's elite local food retailers for a Rural Oscar.

The owners of Langthorne's Buffalo Products, which is based on a 400-acre farm in Brompton, near Northallerton, will join finalists at the climax of the Countryside Alliance Awards at the House of Lords in April.

Paul Langthorne said the business had started ten years ago with two buffalo, after his son, Andrew, developed a severe dairy allergy, and having built a reputation at farmers' markets across the region, launched a cafe and farm shop, stocking the lean meat.

He said their best-selling buffalo burgers and sausages had proved particularly popular with the Gurkha community in Catterick Garrison, who don't eat beef.

The other produce in shop, such as lamb, pork and eggs, comes from a small radius.

Mr Langthorne said his customers particularly liked that all their livestock was born, raised and slaughtered on site and much came from rare breeds.

The volunteer-run Barkers’ of Huby, between Thirsk and York, will contest the village shop and post office category after being taken into community ownership a year ago following the death of one of its long-serving proprietors.

Countryside Alliance Awards director Jill Grieve said: “The finalists are all exceptional, so for Barkers’ and Langthorne Buffalo to get this far is a huge achievement for them."