Wedmore has been recognised as being the best place in Somerset to buy food in a prestigious new award.

Shopkeepers in the village celebrated winning a top prize at the recent Blackmore Vale Media Taste of Somerset Awards.

Wedmore beat off strong competition from Frome and Castle Cary to win the Best Somerset Local Food Town or Village category.

At the award ceremony in Bruton, judges commended the village on providing the most diverse food retailers in a concentrated area.

Farm shop owner Alan Hector said: "I can speak on behalf of all the traders in Wedmore to say we were thrilled to receive the award. We all try to provide the very best for our customers in terms of quality and variety and this award is a real boost for us all."

The public were invited to submit nominations for the category, which was jointly sponsored by Lovington's Ice Cream and Jon Thorner's Farm Shop.

Each shop was presented with a certificate and the village as a whole was presented with a handcrafted ceramic plate with the details of their award.

The plate will be passed from shop to shop over the next year, after which the traders hope to find a permanent place to display it.

Other awards included Best Restaurant, Best Farmers' Market, Best Meat Producer, Best Somerset Cheese, Best Farm Shop and Best Independent Food Shop.

For more Taste of Somerset winners see page 11.