NORTH Tawton-based cheese manufacturer Taw Valley triumphed at last week's Royal Highland Show, being awarded the title of 'Supreme Champion' for its mature Cheddar.

This is the second year in a row that Milk Link, the country's largest cheese manufacturer and leading dairy co-operative, has won the title of supreme champion in the cheese category.

The creamery also won the following eight awards at the show: gold and silver for its mild cheddar; a gold for its Churnton brand; the Red Leicester won a bronze ; and the Taw Valley mature cheddar won two gold awards and a bronze along with supreme champion.

Taw Valley produces a full range of award-winning Cheddar, Red Leicester and Double Gloucester. 

The creamery is also the home of Tickler, an extra mature cheddar. 

Taw Valley had a remarkable 2008, winning 95 awards — including 31 gold awards — for the quality and taste of its cheeses. 

Brian Kerr from Taw Valley said: 'We are absolutely delighted that the excellence of our cheeses has been recognised at the highly regarded Royal Highland Show. 

'This is a testament to the exceptionally high quality of our products and the dedication and talent of our workforce. 

'We are thrilled to build on the success we had in 2008 with these new awards.'

The Cheese Company manufactures more than 20 varieties of Cheddars, Blue Stilton's and British regional cheeses for the retail, food service and ingredients sectors and employs over 1,000 staff across five cheese and dairy processing facilities and its consumer packing facility at Oswestry, Shropshire.