A KNUTSFORD farm shop and café has been handed a county-wide gong for its promotion of Cheshire produce.

The Lambing Shed, in Chelford Road, won the gold award in the Best Local Produce Shop category at the 2017 Taste Cheshire awards on April 19.

More than 44,000 public votes were cast, with each category narrowed down to four before mystery judges picked the gold, silver and bronze award winners.

Kathryn Mitchell, general manager of The Lambing Shed, said: “We were absolutely thrilled to find out we had won on the evening, and so surprised.

“It’s so nice to win an award like this and for our staff to be congratulated, as they work exceptionally hard. We can’t thank our customers enough for their support over the last 18 months since we opened.”

The award, sponsored by Shop Cheshire, was won by The Lambing Shed after a judge noted the shop’s ‘outstanding’ presentation and service.

The ‘hugely impressed’ judge also observed ‘local produce everywhere, in the shop and in the café’, as well as importance of the produce being promoted ‘clearly but not in an oppressive way’.

Lisa Edwards of Taste Cheshire said: “This was an incredible array of Cheshire talent and we are proud to be promoting the true ‘Taste of Cheshire’ through these industry important awards.”