SHOP ACCOLADE: An organic farm shop has been highly commended in the national finals of an awards scheme dubbed the “rural Oscars.”

Cross Lanes Farm, on the A66 near Barnard Castle, won the 2012 North-East Countryside Alliance Start-up Award, progressing to the national finals which were held at the House of Lords this week.

The Teesdale business, which has won a clutch of awards since opening in October 2011, was pipped for the national title by Gower Brewery, based at Llanrhidian, near Swansea.