AN innovative and imaginative conversion at Longborough Farm Shop has earned an award in the prestigious Country Land and Business Association's Farm and Country Buildings Awards Scheme.

The scheme, the most important award of its kind in the field of rural architecture, is run every two years to commend excellence of design and workmanship for new agricultural or for newly converted rural buildings.

The award provides public recognition for farm and country buildings that blend in well with their natural and built environment and which clearly demonstrate additional effort in the design, construction and use of materials.

The original Longborough Farm Shop was created by owner Katherine Assheton from a derelict barn several years ago and became so successful that the shop needed to expand.

The sensitive nature of the area meant that planners were reticent to allow further development but the remains of a pole-barn extension to the original building provided the inspiration for architect Andy Lucas, of Stow-based Eastabrook Associates.

"The remains of the pole-barn included a stone wall and hardstanding that was being used to store fruit. Planners' reservations were overcome by Mr Lucas's plan to re-interpret the likely original design of the pole-barn," Mrs Assheton said.

The existing stone wall was repaired and timber posts and trusses installed along the front elevation. The timber structure was infilled with windows and elm boarding and the hand-made roof tiles were chosen to match as closely as possible the clay tiles of the existing barn.

The extension has proved popular with customers and the local community and allowed the shop to provide a small tea area and a delicatessen selling locally-produced foods.

Mrs Assheton, who last month collected the Moreton Show Society Birchall Trophy in the Farm Diversification competition, will, together with her architect and builders, receive commemorative plaques and certificates at a presentation ceremony later in the year.