Businessmen from Down Under will soon be enjoying food straight from the North of England.

Award-winning Thirsk cheesemakers Shepherd's Purse, of Thirsk, North Yorkshire, have landed a contract from Australian airline Qantas. The long-distance carrier will be using the company's Buffalo Blue and Pure White Buffalo on its premier and business class menu.

Shepherd's Purse chief executive Judy Bell said: "We are on cloud nine to have landed such a prestigious airline to supply our much-loved water buffalo milk cheeses.

"We are sure business class travellers will enjoy the taste and texture of both these cheeses."