The success of First Milk cheese continues, this time at the highly revered Global Cheese Awards held near Frome in Somerset.

The British-owned dairy co-operative secured two Champion trophies and a total of 24 class awards, comprising eight gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals across its full range of Cheddar, Double Gloucester and Red Leicester cheeses.

 The Champion UK Cheese trophy was won by the extra mature Cheddar produced at First Milk's Lake District Creamery. It beat seven other class winners for English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh cheeses of any variety as well as being the best Cheddar.

 The second trophy was won by a Double Gloucester from First Milk's creamery in Haverfordwest, being crowned Champion Territorial Cheese. It outdid all other territorial cheese class winners, such as Red Leicester, Cheshire and Lancashire of both creamery and traditional varieties.

 First Milk's Customer Quality Manager Jack Eade received the trophies from Frome & Agricultural Cheese Show President Michael Rogers at last week's event. Commenting on the results, Jack said: "First Milk has an impressive track record at the major cheese shows, and I'm delighted we've shown this again at this well-respected event. To achieve awards across our entire range clearly indicates our commitment to manufacture cheese to the highest standards. Congratulations to everyone involved, including our farmer members who provide us with the highest quality milk from which to build."