DINERS at one of the world's most famous horse race meetings will be able to tuck into cheese made in the region.

Shepherds Purse Cheeses, based in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, has won a £3,000 order for its Yorkshire Blue at Royal Ascot at York.

About a quarter of a tonne of the cheese - representing a full day's production - will be delivered to the racecourse at Knavesmire.

The family-run firm won the order after being recommended by The Cheese Cellar in London.

Its best-selling blue cheese had to pass a panel of judges before being considered tasty enough for the upmarket Ascot crowd.

Judy Bell, founder and chief executive of Shepherds Purse, said: "We are thrilled to have secured such a prestigious contract as the Royal Ascot at York. It is heartening to see support for local food producers such as us being given the chance to supply our products."

Mrs Bell, who started the company from her kitchen 18 years ago, is awaiting a ruling by the European Court on whether countries outside Greece can use the name feta cheese.

Yorkshire Feta accounts for about 15 per cent of the group's total sales.

Denmark and Germany are challenging a 2002 ruling that prevents any cheesemakers outside of Greece from calling their cheese feta.