CHEESE-maker Judy Bell was celebrating yesterday after taking the top honours in a major agricultural competition.

The founder of Thirsk-based Shepherd's Purse, she was regional winner of the NFU's Great British Food Award.

The award is part of the annual Farming Excellence awards scheme and Mrs Bell beat off stiff competition from a host of other food producers - despite the fact she has only been making cheese since 1986.

Specialising initially in sheep's milk cheese, developed in response to an increase in people with an intolerance to normal dairy products, her award-winning cheeses now use cow's milk and water buffalo milk.

NFU regional director Richard Ellison said: "From modest beginnings, Judy has taken the cheese world by storm."

Mrs Bell said: "All our cheeses are speciality products. We have had to work hard to develop cheeses with a unique texture and taste that could compete in a 'high end' market."

The runner-up for the award also came from North Yorkshire - the Ginger Pig, at Levisham, near Pickering, where Timothy Wilson produces a range of sausages, terrines, pates, pies and cooked foods for the London market.

Paul and Kate Langthorne, of Langthorne's Buffalo Produce, in Brompton, near Northallerton, was runner-up in the best innovation in the food chain award.

And Thomas, Stephen and Patricia Anne Knox, of Yorkshire Dales Beef at Patrick Brompton, were runners-up in the Farm Retailer of the Year Award.