HOME-produced bacon has won a national award for a West Auckland farm.

Tracy and Matthew Betney, of Broom Mill Farm, Hummerbeck, have seen their bacon named as the Best of British, winning first prize in the bacon category of the Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards 2002.

Success comes less than two years after the couple began producing pork products to sell at farmers' markets and agricultural shows.

Mr and Mrs Betney, who appeared in our Great North Country Fare feature in June, had to diversify after the farm's complete pig stock was culled during last year's foot-and-mouth outbreak.

"We didn't want to just give up because we have a customer base and we didn't want to let them down," said Mrs Betney. "We hope to expand soon because there is a big demand for products like ours in the London hotels. Winning this award means our bacon will be more in demand. It gives us kudos.

"It was wonderful to win the award and our recipes are now a trade secret.