YORKSHIRE Farmhouse in Thirsk has been named the UK’s largest producer and packer of free range only eggs, according to figures released by the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC).

The business, which trades as James Potter and has 200,000 hens across its two Yorkshire farms, has seen the volume of free-range eggs it handles increase by 250 per cent in the past five years, with significant investment going into hen housing and a crack detection system, which can monitor 130,000 eggs per hour.

Adrian Potter, sales and marketing director, said: “The increase in sales goes to show that even in hard times, consumers are prepared to pay that little extra for local eggs produced to higher welfare standards. Our continued investment allows us to keep building on our high welfare standards, while keeping the end cost down for the consumer.”