EDEN has once again scooped a trophy cabinet full of glittering accolades in this year's Great Taste Awards.

Almost sweeping the board were Adam Marks and Mary Ballantyne of the Welcome Inn at Eamont Bridge who clocked up seven awards for their lip-smacking range of chutneys and pickles, curry sauces, mustards, jellys and jams.

The Old Smokehouse at Brougham Hall - no stranger to honours down the years - also found its way on to the winners' rostrum, as did the Eden Valley Foods company which makes Gorgeous Granola'.

Regarded as the industry Oscars, The Guild of Fine Food's annual Great Taste Awards are the UK's largest independent evaluation of fine food and drink.

Each year, almost 4,500 foods are blind-tasted by up to three separate teams of experts before the awards are made. Since May there have been nearly two weeks of tasting by more than 400 independent judges. As a result, 530 Great Taste Awards have been given out for excellence in taste, texture and flavour.

Bob Farrand, of the Guild of Fine Food, said: "These awards have been running for 14 years now and are a recognised mark of excellence that consumers can trust and rely on.

"The winning products have been through a thorough judging process and we are able to assure consumers that the Great Taste logo, which all award-winners can use, signifies genuine, proven fine food.

"It's not just a supermarket premium marketing slogan that bears almost no relation to the quality of the food in the packet. The Great Taste Awards reflect what is happening in the fine food halls, delicatessens and farm shops throughout the UK."