A TRIO of marmalades have scooped the top prizes in a world-wide competition to find the best of the breakfast preserve favourite.

Mary and John Pearson from Lovesome Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast, near Northallerton, have picked up gold, silver and bronze awards in the ninth World’s Original Marmalade Awards for their fine cut Seville orange, Seville orange, and orange and ginger.

Mrs Pearson scored highly for the zesty conserves for the appearance, colour, consistency, aroma and flavour.

The awards took place at Dalemain in Cumbria last month and kicked off National Marmalade Week, on March 1 to 8, which encourages people to try, buy or make marmalade.

Mrs Pearson said: “This is a golden award for us in more ways than one.

“We’ve got our marmalade pans at the ready to make lots more jars so please come and try it at Lovesome Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast.”

More than 2,000 jars of marmalade from as far afield as Australia, Japan, USA and South Korea were sent, by both artisan producers and amateur makers, for judging by a panel of marmalade experts.