TAW Valley Creamery, in North Tawton, scooped a staggering 27 awards at the Mid-Somerset Show in Shepton Mallet last Wednesday.

The creamery's awards haul included five trophies and eleven gold prizes.

The trophies included the Stratton Sales Seven Counties Cup; the Matthews and Skailes Perpetual Challenge Cup for the champion cheese; the Stan Ash Memorial Cup for the overall winner of Cheddar cheesemakers; the Sturminster Creamery Cup for the overall winner of open classes; and fourth place in the Danisco Grand Prix for finest mature Cheddar cheese.

Gold prizes awarded for excellence included Mild Cheddar; Mature Cheddar; Extra Mature Cheddar; Vintage Cheddar; Double Gloucester; Organic Cheddar; Speciality Cheese.

Taw Valley Creamery also won six silver prizes in the Mild Cheddar Cheese; Mature Cheddar Cheese; Organic Cheddar and Reduced Fat Cheese categories.

The results delighted the chief executive of Milk Link Neil Kennedy who said: 'Our expert cheese makers deserve this recognition for their flair, dedication and skills which deliver the really exceptional taste and quality of our products.'