FREE-range pigs could be bringing home the bacon for a farmer nominated for a rural enterprise award.

Kate Gilbert is in the running for the Country Living Enterprising Rural Women Awards which reward innovation in business.

Mrs Gilbert, of Weobley, Herefordshire, bought two pigs from neighbouring farmer George Styles when she married her husband Jonathan.

When he retired, she took on the rest of his breeding stock.

She now cares for 1,500 free-range porkers each year and is proving, despite the current problems with the pig industry, the business can be a money-spinner.

"The more natural the life of the animal the better the quality of meat," she said.

"I don't know whether you could actually say these pigs are happy, but you can see they are having a good life here.

"We take a lot of care with slaughtering.

"They're not rushed through - they're treated with respect."

Last year, Forty Farm, the company set up by the Gilberts in 1997, won gold awards for its sausages.

The firm, which plans to supply Aberdeen Angus and Hereford beef from local farms in the future, now operates a mail order service and is in the process of converting to organic production methods.

The awards are due to be announced in March next year.