SETTLE'S The Courtyard Dairy is celebrating after being named 'cheesemonger of the year' at the Global Cheese Awards.

The awards, which have been going since 1861 and are one of the oldest cheese shows in the world, are held in high regard across the industry.

The finest cheeses made throughout the world compete every year to win one of the prestigious awards.

This year’s team of judges highlighted The Courtyard Dairy’s, “very interesting and original selection ... particularly good to see a cheesemonger championing local producers.”

Andy Swinscoe, co-owner of The Courtyard Dairy, next to the A65 at Austwick, said: “It’s a real credit to our skilled cheesemonger team, whose mission is continually to champion and support farm-made cheese in the UK. "The unique range of small farm producers that we work closely with, both developing and supporting, really showed through.”

Co-owner Kathy Swinscoe added: “The award recognises our local Dales community – they’ve really got behind the special, single-farm cheeses we stock, and make an effort to support them and us. Without our regular customers, we’d struggle!”