A Torfaen cheese company is celebrating after winning a Countryside Alliance Rural Enterprise Award.

Now in their 13th year and nicknamed the ‘Rural Oscars’, Wales’ premier rural business awards were handed out by Welsh Government Minister for Environment Hannah Blythyn, at a reception at the National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay.

The awards were set up to celebrate rural communities, produce, skill, heritage and enterprising spirit and run across five categories.

The Blaenafon Cheddar Company, based on Broad Street, in the heart of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site, won the category of Rural Enterprise

Rachel Evans, Countryside Alliance director for Wales, said: “The winner of this category is a rural enterprise that was born from a determination to succeed coupled with a passion for producing cheese that told a story.

"While the company has grown to a recognisable brand, the original values can sometimes get lost in production, but that is far from the case here under the direction of founder Susan Fiander-Woodhouse”

Owner and managing director of the cheese company Susan Fiander-Woodhouse said “I am absolutely thrilled to have won this award and extremely proud that the business continues to go from strength to strength.”

Councillor Alan Jones, executive member for business, culture, leisure and tourism at Torfaen County Borough Council, said “This is a great achievement for The Blaenafon Cheddar Company and I am delighted to hear that a local food and tourism business has done so well in the Countryside Alliance Awards.

"It also follows on from their recent success at the National Tourism Awards Wales 2018 when they were South East Wales Regional winners in the Tourism Business Innovation Awards category. What a great start to 2018.”

The Blaenafon Cheddar Company along with the other champions for Wales now advance to the Countryside Alliance British finals, to be held at the House of Lords on April 25.