CHEESE producers have come away with a clutch of medals from one of the most prestigious events in the food calendar.

Worcestershire and Herefordshire cheese makers scooped a total of nine medals at this year's British Cheese Festival, held at Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

Malvern Cheesewrights, based at Whittington, near Worcester, scooped two Bronze and one Silver Award for its sheep, goat and cows' milk cheeses, namely Malvern, Whiteladies Goat Cheese and Hereford Hop.

Ansteys of Worcester won two Silver awards for its traditional Double Gloucester and Old Worcester White cheeses.

"We are very pleased," said Alyson Anstey, who runs the company with her husband Colin. "It's always lovely to be acknowledged.

"We are very supportive of these awards because they symbolise excellence and we are glad to be part of it."

Neals Yard Creamery of Dorstone in Herefordshire is a small-scale producer of high quality hand-made dairy products, specialising in organic cows' and goats' milk cheese.

The company scored a hat-trick with a Gold for its goat's milk Perroche cheese, Silver for Finn, a soft white organic cows' milk cheese, and Bronze for its Ragstone goat's milk cheese.

Monkland Cheese Dairy, near Leominster, also won a Bronze medal, for its Herefordshire Sage Cheese at the awards, held on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28.

Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF) trade development officer, Georgina Pickford, said the British Cheese Festival was the highlight in every cheese-makers calendar.

"To take home so many awards is a testament to the unique flavour and distinctiveness of Herefordshire and Worcestershire cheeses, and the dedication of the producers," she said.

"With an estimated attendance of more than 10,000 cheese-lovers, and hundreds of cheese buyers from all over the world, the festival was a high-profile platform to showcase regional distinctiveness and promote the world-class range of delicious cheeses made right here in the Heart of England.

"Regional cheeses are becoming more popular, and can be found on delicatessen and shop shelves up and down the country, which is great news for local producers.

"Over the last 20 years the UK cheese-making industry has really taken off. The quality is fantastic and we have a tremendous diversity of cheeses, from traditional territorial cheeses such as Cheddar and Stilton to our blossoming range of new and soft cheeses.

"At last, cheese with a "made in the UK" label is getting the recognition it deserves."

A selection of Ansteys and Malvern Cheesewrights products will be on display to national and international trade buyers on Sunday, October 12, and Monday, October 13, at the HEFF two-day Regional Food and Drink Trade Show, at Millennium Point, in Birmingham.