MILK Link's Taw Valley Creamery in North Tawton has proved a resounding hit with the judges.

As well as being named winner of the Aeron Valley Cheese Masters Perpetual Trophy 'supreme champion' at the Royal Welsh Show recently, the creamery's 'Tickler' extra mature Cheddar won gold.

The creamery also won gold for its mild coloured Cheddar. In the Red Leicester class Taw Valley won the Marks and Spencer's perpetual trophy for 'best regional cheese' as well as gold and bronze for its Red Leicester. Double Gloucester also did well and was awarded silver and bronze.

Taw Valley Creamery is owned by The Cheese Company, the UK's largest cheese manufacturer and part of Milk Link.

Mark Robertson, Milk Link's operations director, said: 'We couldn't do any of this without our dedicated workforce. To be awarded the title of supreme champion for Tickler as well as the best regional cheese for our Red Leicester is a testament to everyone's hard work.'

But the creamery's success has not stopped there.

The North Tawton creamery took home a total of 13 awards, including the Danisco Grand Prix trophy for its Mature Cheddar, in the fourth consecutive round of the prestigious competition, at the Nantwich International Cheese Show, last week.

Overall, the company continued its strong performance by winning 28 awards, including five gold awards and the Danisco Grand Prix title.

 Neil Kennedy, chief executive of Milk Link, said: 'Milk Link has now won the first four rounds of the Danisco Grand Prix and of course we could not enjoy such success without the expertise of our dedicated workforce.

'Receiving 28 awards demonstrates that Milk Link is dedicated to both product quality and consistency especially as each of our creameries won at the show. We are delighted.'