A SOFT blue cheese crafted at the family-run Shepherds Purse dairy in North Yorkshire has been named Best English Cheese at the largest cheese show in the world.

Yorkshire Blue beat off competition at the Nantwich International Cheese Awards held in Cheshire.

The growing team from the Thirsk based cheesemaker rubbed shoulders with the great and the good of the dairy industry who descended on Dorford Park in Nantwich to take part in the annual celebration, which this year attracted more than 40,000 visitors.

Shepherds Purse cheeses were among a record 5,000 plus cheeses of every type judged in the 83,000 sq ft Cheese Marquee at the show.

Yorkshire Blue also scooped Gold in the Blue Cheese (hard and soft) category and Bronze in the Blue Vein class.

Yorkshire Fettle picked up Silver in the Sheep Milk Cheese class, while Mrs Bells Blue, named after the dairy’s founder Judy Bell, won Silver in the Blue Cheese (hard or soft) category.

Bluemin White also triumphed in the Best English Cheese category with a Bronze award.

This year’s 160th Great Yorkshire Show saw the cheesemaker win even more awards for the dairy’s groaning trophy cabinet.

Caroline Bell, director, Shepherds Purse Cheeses said: “The team is absolutely delighted to win such prestigious prizes both globally and in our home county of Yorkshire.

“We are so proud to scoop so many awards which is a kitemark for the continued quality, innovation and consistency of our handcrafted cheeses made in Yorkshire.

“To win top accolades for both Yorkshire Blue on the world stage and Mrs Bells Blue on home territory is amazing.

“We are delighted to fly the flag for English cheeses and indeed Yorkshire among some of the best, top class cheeses from around the world and our region.”