AWARD-WINNING speciality cheeses from a North producer will soon be available in Sainsbury's supermarkets.

Shepherd's Purse Cheeses, based at Thirsk, North Yorkshire, has secured a contract to supply more than 100 stores at the company with its Mrs Bells Blue and Buffalo Blue brands.

Mrs Bells Blue will be launched as part of the Taste the Difference pre-pack range and Buffalo Blue on the delicatessen.

Mrs Bells Blue is made with local ewes' milk, and Buffalo Blue is made with 100 per cent water buffalo milk from Yorkshire.

Shepherd's Purse marketing manager Katie Bell said: "We are delighted to have secured this contract with Sainsbury's and that our cheeses will now be more accessible to a national customer base.

"All our cheeses are handmade to traditional recipes."

Sarah Mackenzie, a cheese buyer for Sainsbury's, said: "With a revival in British speciality cheese-making and growing customer interest in local sourcing, Sainsbury's see British speciality cheese becoming increasingly important, not just in the region in which they are produced, but also nationally."