A CHEESE-MAKING team have proved they are the cream of the crop by scooping a top award.

Hampshire Cheeses, based at Herriard, won an award for its Tunworth Cheese. The accolade was presented by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) at its Hampshire Countryside Awards.

The cheese won the Rural Enterprise category at a ceremony in Itchen Abbas, attended by Basingstoke and Deane Mayor Councillor David Leeks.

The awards were set up by CPRE Hampshire, which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of the countryside of Hampshire through the sustainable use of land and other resources in town and country.

The award was presented to Stacey Hedges, who owns the business, by Mike Rushworth, managing director of Steve’s Leaves, a baby leaf growing company which is part of Vitacress and which sponsored the event.

He said: “Many congratulations to Hampshire Cheeses. We were very impressed with the way that the company works to strengthen the community, through employing local people and encouraging students.

“They also use local milk and sell the cheese locally through farmers’ markets and shops.”

Hampshire Cheeses’ creamery is built inside an old cattle barn which was restored to bring it back into use.

Mrs Hedges said: “The cheese is named after the little village outside Basingstoke, and we supply it to local farm shops, businesses and restaurants.

“It’s important to us to help the rural economy so we buy our milk from a local dairy farmer and employ six local people.

“The cheese is made from unpasteurised cow milk and it’s similar to camembert. It was a complete surprise to win the award. Someone locally suggested we put our name forward, and it was great to win.”