THE team behind an innovative beef business are celebrating after winning the Outstanding Achievement category at the Northern Farmer Awards.

The awards, hosted by The Press' sister publication The Northern Farmer, were established to recognise the work that farmers, suppliers and breeders do throughout the year.

The team at Tibthorpe based specialist beef business, the Yorkshire Wagyu Company was delighted to win Outstanding Achievement category on the night.

Director Jonathan Shepherd said: "We're delighted to be recognised for our farming achievements. We're always looking for farming partners to help us with production, so hopefully the win will encourage people to come forward and work with us on the production side."

After two years spent establishing one of the biggest herds of full blood and cross bred Wagyu beef in the UK, Wolds farmers Jonathan Shepherd and Jim Bloom launched The Yorkshire Wagyu Company in 2014 to sell their premium beef direct.

Other North Yorkshire winners at the Northern Farmer awards included Mike and Tom Powley who were crowned the 2016 Northern Farmers of the Year.

The father and son duo began working Elm House Farm, in Green Hammerton, near York, with 12 Hereford cross dairy cows in 1987.

The pair accepted the biggest award of the night after already securing the Beef Farmer of the Year accolade.

The Young Farmer of the Year Award for 2016 went to James Walmsley, of Hebdon Wood House, in Bishop Thornton, Harrogate.

Stephen Tuer, of Hutton Grange Farm, in Hutton Bonville, near Northallerton, earned the Arable Farmer of the Year Award while Tamara Hall, of Molescroft Grange Farm, in Beverley, earned the Farm Manager of the Year Award.