A South Cumbrian food producer has won 15 prizes at a major food awards.

The annual Great Taste awards, run by the Guild of Fine Foods, see more than 12,000 products from across the globe blind tasted by 12 panels of experts made up of top chefs, cookery writers, food critics, restaurateurs and fine food retailers.

They are then given a star rating, with less than three per cent of entries receiving the three star award.

Lakeland Artisan, based in Kendal, picked up six two-star and nine one-star Great Taste awards.

Managing director Geoff Monkman said “We thrilled to receive 15 awards this year, the most we’ve ever been awarded in one year.

"The great taste awards have added value to our business in terms of credibility, opening doors to new retailers, and seen our business go from strength to strength, and with our expansion early this year to purpose-build production kitchen, and two further shops, we are really pleased to have these awards. ”

The two-star awards go to less than 10 per cent of entries.

Lakeland Artisan earned these accolades for its Lakeland Liqueurs Spiced Fruit Rum Liqueur, Mawson's Ginger Cordial, Mawson’s Dandelion & Burdock, Mawson’s Spiced Fruit Punch, Cumbrian Delights – Sticky Toffee Sauce and Cumbrian Delights – Sticky Sass Sauce.

The company moved its base from Staveley to the Kendal Fell Business Park in February and has shops in Windermere, Keswick and Bowness.