ANYTHING out of town supermarkets can do, one independent high street trader reckons he can do better.

Cranstons, the Penrith-based butchers, has officially unveiled its extended Cumbrian Food Hall and new Cafe Oswald restaurant on the outskirts of the market town - creating a bumper crop of jobs into the bargain.

"Today we have reached another milestone in our ambition to continue to champion foods from Cumbrian producers," said managing director Philip Cranston. "I am also delighted that in the teeth of a recession we have been able to launch our expanded facilities on time and with the valuable addition of 20 local full and part-time jobs."

Watched by almost 150 invited guests from the Cumbrian business, farming and food-producer community, local pork farmer Martyn Hunter, Appleby cheesemaker Maurice Walton, beef farmer Robert Dickinson and Country Puddings queen Lynne Mallinson, joined the Cranston family to cut the ceremonial ribbon - a signature string of Cumberland sausage.

The new extension, which expands the foodhall by 40 per cent and provides the 86-cover first floor Cafe Oswald (named after Cranstons' Kirkoswald birthplace), uses stone, slate and timber to create striking rooflines and contemporary extensive glazing which gives views to the Lakeland hills.

The development also incorporates additional free customer parking.