ULVERSTON-based fine glassware makers Cumbria Crystal has been enjoying a double celebration after having its products feature exclusively in a luxury new car and also receiving a prestigious award.

Managing director Chris Blade announced this week that the company, based at Oubas Hill, had been awarded a contract to supply luxury crystal to Bentley.

The bespoke British vehicle marque is launching the new Bentayga Mulliner at the Geneva Motor Show this week. Each car comes equipped with a bottle cooler in the back seats equipped with two Cumbria Crystal champagne flutes.

Mr Blade said: “What are proud that Bentley Mulliner placed so much faith in Cumbria Crystal by inviting us to develop and manufacture the exquisite and highly unusual champagne flutes for the new Bentayga Mullier SUV.

"This is the beginning of an exciting ongoing collaboration, with additional products already being discussed."

The South Lakeland company has also picked up the title of 'best luxury crystal stemware producer at the 2017 Food and Drink awards.

"Recognition of the incredible skills of our glass blowers and cutters is critical to the ongoing success of the company," added Mr Blade. "We strive tirelessly to produce the highest quality crystal possible through hand production processes, compromise is not an option and as such our products are in demand worldwide by people for whom only the best is good enough.

"Our small Cumbria based company rivals the giants of Baccarat and St Louis and, as the last luxury manufacturer of British luxury lead crystal, also plays a critical role in keeping a heritage craft alive in the UK.”

Cumbria Crystal is the last producer of completely hand-blown and hand-cut, full-lead English crystal in the United Kingdom. Using only traditional glass-making processes, the small team of 22 highly skilled workers produce crystal of the highest quality, using techniques and processes that have hardly changed since the Roman era.