A DALES company has floored the opposition at The Campaign for Wool International Wool Carpet and Rug Awards in London.

Wools of Cumbria Carpets, of Sedbergh, won the award 'For the Best British Carpet created with the Planet in mind.'

MORE TOP STORIES:

The winning carpet was their designer graphite shade 'Silverstripe' which is made with two different yarns - one made from pure Herdwick and the other from pure Swaledale wool.

In addition to these two yarns, the company's products include Rough Fell carpets from sheep specific to the Kendal, Sedbergh and Tebay area.

Company director John Barraclough said: "We are thrilled and honoured to have received this award. It continues to send out the message that these wools make fantastic carpets."

Mr Barraclough is also responsible for overseeing the weaving department at Farfield Mill, Sedbergh, which has just seen the first commission-woven Herdwick cloth come off the new Somet loom.

This loom replaced one of the Dobcross looms last year and has provided the weaving operation in the mill with greater flexibility and efficiency.

He said that master weaver David MacDowell has been able to train the company's new designer/weaving apprentice, Juliette Laybourne, a graduate from The University of the Highlands and Islands, on the new loom.