WEARDALE potters Eddie and Margaret Curtis recently returned from the continent where they won two major prizes.

In Gouda, Holland, visitors to one festival selected them for first prize out of 147 potters.

Two days later they won first prize at the Keramiek Biennale Park van Brasschaat in Belgium, where they were chosen as best senior ceramists from an international entry of more than 70 potters.

"We were delighted when the public voted us best ceramists at Gouda," said Mr Curtis. "The show has been established for 27 years and ceramic artists from 14 different countries gather there to exhibit and sell their work."

To go on and win again in Belgium was doubly satisfying. "We were the only English potters there but exhibitors came from as far away as Uzbekistan, Lithuania and South Africa, with the majority from Western Europe."

They are now preparing for their next international show at Potfest in the Park at Hutton in the Forest, near Penrith, from July 26-28