A COUNTY Durham farm shop has been named as one of the top ten destination farm shops in the UK by the BBC’s Good Food magazine.

Cross Lanes Organic Farm shop, near Barnard Castle, is the only farm shop in the North of England to make the list.

Peter Coverdale, shop owner, prides himself on supporting local businesses and stocking local produce.

He said: “It’s down to the team work, we have such a dedicated and hard working team, and our aim is to genuinely please the customer.

“We try our hardest with the presentation and quality of the dishes served in the restaurant, and the fact that the ingredients are local and sustainable, together with working to high hygiene standards all helps.

“We have a farm shop supporting local producers, full of either locally sourced, ethical or organic products and a butcher counter selling our own and locally sourced meats”.

Cross Lanes opened in October 2011 and is known locally for its living roof where sheep can be seen eating the grass.

Deborah Hare, shop manager, said: “When people come into the building they are amazed by it, we have lots of regular guests, and we’re becoming a stop off point for people travelling as well.”

Mr Coverdale added: “I’m very proud of the staff working for us, I couldn’t have asked for better staff, we have a lot of support from local people but it is nice to have national recognition."

For more information visit www.crosslanesorganics.co.uk