MARMALADE lovers are being sought to enter their preserves into the 13th annual World’s Original Marmalade Awards.

Held in the Dalemain Mansion near Penrith, the awards always attract homemade and artisan entries from around the globe.

Last year, the competition attracted entries from more than 30 countries including Japan, Columbia, Singapore and Canada.

Founder Jane Hasell-McCosh said: ‘It is always so exciting to see all of the wonderful flavours and ingredients that are sent from all over the globe. I love to see exotic versions of such a quintessentially British product arriving at my home, which every spring becomes the centre of the Marmalade world."

In 2018 The Marmalade Awards welcomes new artisan judges, most notably talented chef and food columnist for the Saturday Telegraph Xanthe Clay and consultant pastry chef to Waitrose Will Torrent.

The awards remain hugely popular locally, with entries coming from across Cumbria and entrants keen to help raise funds for local charity Hospice at Home Carlisle and the North West, the key beneficiary of the awards.

As part of the festivities, for the third year the town of Penrith will host ‘Penrith Goes Orange’.

On the day of the awards, the town will quite literally turn orange. There will be an array of orange-themed market stalls, decorated shop windows, and a full day of music and entertainment.

The deadline for entries to the awards is February 9, 2018 and all entries should be posted directly to Dalemain Mansion or taken to a Collection Point.

The winning homemade marmalade will be produced commercially by leading producer Thursday Cottage and sold at key sponsor Fortnum & Mason’s flagship Piccadilly store.

The awards will take place on March 17 and for more information on how to enter visit www.marmaladeawards.com