A COFFEE shop owner has been named the pick of the national crop.

Simon Robertson, who owns Leoni The Coffee House, in Wheelgate, Malton, was chosen as the Barista Champion of Great Britain.

The accolade brought Mr Robertson the prize of a coffee-making machine and entry into the competition's world finals. Stage and screen star Rula Lenska presented the accolade to him at a ceremony in Birmingham.

"I did not expect to win this award as the standard of the other competitors was so high. I hope that my achievement will put Malton on the map as a place to get the best cup of coffee in the country," he said.