A SPECIALIST cheese shop owned by a South Lakeland man has been named as one of the top 20 in the British Isles.

Martin Gott, who lives near Cartmel, has had his New Market Dairy store recognised in a list compiled by Speciality Food Magazine.

The magazine launched a special issue focusing on cheesemongers this month.

As part of the list of specialist cheese shops, Mr Gott's Altrincham shop was recognised as 'grassroots champion'.

The shop's efforts to support the cheese industry have seen members of its team travel the length and breadth of the UK to source goods from other cheesemakers and bring them back to its Manchester audience. In doing so, New Market Dairy has helped bridge the gap between producer and consumer and assisted farmers and rural communities.

Mr Gott said: "Being recognised as grassroots champion alongside some of the UK’s top cheesemongers is a big pat on the back, especially at the moment with all that artisan cheesemakers across the British Isles have been through and, in some cases, are still going through as they battle for their future.

"Now, more than ever, we need people to support British artisan cheesemakers and to buy farm-made cheeses to help these passionate food producers survive, and hopefully we are doing our bit to help in some small way.’’