A GIN producer is toasting the spirit of success after going for gold and carrying off the top awards in one of the world's leading competitions.

Masons Dry Yorkshire Gin picked up four awards at the 2017 San Francisco Worlds Spirits competition – two gold, one silver and a bronze.

The company was started four years ago in Bedale by gin fan Karl Mason and his wife Cathy because they were disappointed to find that so many gins tasted the same and lacked any distinction.

After setting up a distillery in the town, from an initial 120 bottles they are now producing thousands. It is fast becoming one of the biggest new names in Britain, stocked by Harvey Nichols and Lewis and Coopers.

The San Francisco competition, which chooses winners through a blind tasting process, is one of the most influential in the industry with renowned international distillers and small batch craft producers from all over the globe.

The company carried off awards for Masons Dry Yorkshire Original Gin and Masons Yorkshire Vodka which both won Gold, Masons Lavender Edition Gin won Silver and Masons Yorkshire Tea Edition Gin won Bronze.

Mr Mason said:“We are absolutely delighted to have been recognised in such a way at the San Francisco World spirits competition.

"Awards of this kind mean a great deal to us, and we are thrilled that everything we make won an award. Our whole range is now award-winning and we are incredibly proud of this achievement. It’s a real boost for the company.”