AN award-winning Teesdale organic farm shop and cafe has won a new national award.

Deborah Hare and Peter Coverdale from Cross Lanes Organic Farm on the A66 near Barnard Castle has won the small retailer section of the 2016 Farm Shop and Deli Show awards.

The competition attracted more than 350 entries with 12 category and nine regional winners announced at a ceremony in Birmingham.

The awards are now in their third year and recognise the best specialist independent retailers in the UK. They celebrate the highest levels of service, product knowledge, initiative, innovation and community involvement.

The judges were a team of experts from the world of speciality retail, fine food and food media, and included Jon May, managing director Fabulous Food & Drink, Giles Henschel, co founder & chief executive of Olives Et Al, and Ross Gilfillan, editor Speciality Food magazine.

Shortlisted entrants were chosen and judges then carried out a series of undercover visits to see them in action before selecting the category winners.

Journalist and broadcaster Nigel Barden, chairman of judges, said: "The entries were outstanding – judging becomes harder every year. I think what stands out the most from the businesses we visited this year was a passion for customer service and continued innovation. There are some very driven and talented food retailers in Britain and they deserve to be recognised by awards such as these."

On winning Deborah Hare and Peter Coverdale said: "We’re delighted and surprised. It’s really nice to have our dedicated team’s hard work recognized. We do try to be a little different, putting our own ideas into play. We will display our award with pride."

The Cheesemonger of the year was The Courtyard Dairy in Settle.