AN award-winning Pickering farm shop and café has opened a secure dog walking field at its Thornton Road site.

Cedarbarn Farm Shop, Café and Miniature Railway has added the 1.25-acre dog walking area adjacent to its popular farm shop, café, miniature railway and pick-your-own fields in response to demand for a secure facility to exercise dogs.

"We have extended our family friendly offering to our four-legged friends with a secure field for you to exercise your dog/s. The field is open daily from 7am to 8pm, is surrounded by six-foot high secure fencing and is fully-lit for year-round use," said Cedarbarn's co-owner, Mandy Avison.

Jess Corton is a regular at the dog walking field with her cockapoo, Luna. She said: "Luna loves having the run of the field without the distraction of other dogs and I can relax on the picnic bench with coffee and cake from the café safe in the knowledge that she's completely secure.

"I love the fact that it's fully lit; that will be very useful once the nights start to draw in."

Cedarbarn Farm Shop, Café and Miniature Railway is run by fourth generation farmer, Karl Avison and his wife, Mandy. The business began as a small PYO strawberries operation from a caravan 26 years ago and is now a thriving farm shop and café that sources a large percentage of its produce from its own farm and a neighbouring farm supplemented with local suppliers.

For more information and to book, visit www.cedarbarnfarmshop.co.uk/dog-field.