A Shepton Mallet cheesemaker won Best English Cheese at the British Cheese Awards held at the Bath & West Showground on Friday.

Tor, made by White Lake Cheese, was crowned Best English Cheese at the prestigious awards.

White Lake Cheese is based at Bagborough Farm in Pylle, close to Shepton Mallet and the Glastonbury Festival site.

Roger Longman of White Lake Cheese said:

"We are delighted with this award, which endorses the feeling of our entire team here at White Lake, that we produce a superb lactic goat's cheese, with its combination of citrus flavours with a typical goat's cheese tang and its subtle peppery undertone from the light coating of ash. 

"The more pointy pyramid shape we use is a celebration of the Glastonbury Tor, which is clearly visible from our farm, and differentiates us from the more typical French pyramid cheeses. 

"Cheese making is a team effort and this award is an amazing confirmation of the skills our team here at Bagborough farm, from our talented Cheesemakers to our dedicated Affineurs, and then on to our expert Wrappers and Dispatchers. 

"This award confirms that Tor is a standout cheese for any cheeseboard, both at home or in restaurants where the whiteness of its centre is off-set by the blackness of its charcoal. Just add your favourite cheese accompaniments - we recommend crunchy sourdough crackers and some juicy black grapes. "

Roger is a third generation farmer. He began cheese making with his Grandfather. Back then it was Cheddar but the family business has been a pioneer in the production of goat's cheese in this country.

Organised by The Royal Bath & West Society, the British Cheese Awards saw a 63-strong judging panel made up of cheesemakers, cheesemongers, cheese experts, buyers and commentators assessing entries in their individual classes during the morning session, awarding Bronze, Silver and Gold accolades. During the second round, all Gold award winners from each category were judged alongside one another to identify the category winners, before all category winners were judged in the final round to find this year's Supreme Champion, Snowdrop, made by Cote Hill and Reserve Champion, Cashel Blue from Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers.

Hosted for the first time by the new Bath & West Food & Drink Festival, the British Cheese Awards invited festival visitors to sample some of this year's entries over the course of the weekend and to cast their votes in the People's Choice Award.