A SPECIALIST cheese shop in Tavistock has beaten competition from all over Great Britain to win a national award.

Country Cheeses, owned by Gary and Elise Jungheim, has won the Best Cheeseshop Award in the Country Living 1998-99 Foodshop Awards.

They will receive their prize of £1,000 from celebrity chef Sophie Grigson at the Country Living spring fair in London today (Thursday).

Gary Jungheim said he was 'very excited' by the news.

'We're a bit weak at the knees — you don't know what to think, you always want to be a winner but you just don't know.'

Country Cheeses was established in Tavistock seven years ago and the business has received many accolades.

'We couldn't have hoped to have achieved it without the support of the people of Tavistock,' said Gary, who also paid tribute to his staff.

'They make a superb difference — we have got the best and most cheerful staff.'

Meanwhile, Gary and Elise aim to carry on encouraging people to eat cheese and keep looking for new producers.

Country Cheeses were judged on the quality and variety of produce on offer, the standard of service and type of business run.

More than 300 businesses in total were nominated by readers of Country Living magazine.

Editor Susy Smith said: 'We are very pleased to both recognise and reward the independent foodshops that support village high streets and provide consumers throughout the country with an excellent standard of service and a selection of quality British food.'