BOOMING bread specialists Lovingly Artisan have scooped two top awards at the inaugural Bakery Business Magazine National Bakery awards.

The operation, which is based at Plumgarths near Kendal, were named National Bakery of the Year and North West Regional Bakery of the Year at the glittering ceremony at London’s BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, which was hosted by television presenter Mark Durden-Smith.

Owners Aidan Monks and Catherine Connor mixed with county bakery winners from across the UK at the awards evening and were surprised, honoured and delighted to win the top award and also its regional equivalent.

“We didn’t expect to win Best Northwest Regional Bakery and certainly didn’t expect to win the overall award as the UK’s Bakery of the Year,” said the duo.

“We can’t get over it, it’s such a huge pat on the back for all of us.

“We’ve all worked so hard to create the best possible artisan breads for our customers.

“The whole team take great pride in what we do.

“Quite simply we want to show people what real bread is all about, and that we as consumers don’t have to accept poor quality bread in our diets.’’

The honours are the latest in a string of awards won by Lovingly Artisan, which is based at the Lakeland Food Park on Crook Road.