BARROW-born TV chef Dave Myers gave a Cumbrian produce a highly commended accolade in the Best British Speciality category at the annual Great British Food Awards.

Lisa Smith, owner of Ginger Bakers, based at Plumgarth’s, near Kendal, said she was delighted after The Hairy Bikers highlighter her Westmorland Pepper Cake as one of their favourites.

The annual awards celebrate the country’s finest home-grown ingredients, as well as the hard-working folk who produce and cook with them.

This year’s judges alongside the Hairy Bikers also included Natalia Ribbe, Adam Handling, William Sitwell, Asma Khan, Raymond Blanc, Rosie Birkett and Michel Roux Jr, who all tasted their way through a huge array of products across the 47 categories covering everything from beer, cheese, charcuterie, seafood, cake and bakes.

The Westmorland Pepper Cake is described as a cake with a difference and one that heralds the revival of the historic spiced fruitcake. The cake's recipe is based on a classic fruit cake, with dried fruits in the batter, however, that’s where the similarity ends. The unusual addition of a number of spices; including ground cloves, ginger, cracked black pepper and black treacle gives this cake its unique flavour.

The spices' inclusion and use in the recipe is directly linked to the significant international shipping trade with former British overseas colonies in the Caribbean, Americas, and Far East, through the ports of Whitehaven and Maryport.

Lisa said: "It’s also really amazing to think that a very nearly forgotten food from the old county of Westmorland has the potential to be firmly put back in the foodie spotlight. It’s just one example of why we should be justifiably proud of our food heritage."