A NEW competition to celebrate the best of food and drink producers and vendors in the area has been officially launched.

The Flavours of Herriot Country competition will replace the Flavours of Hambleton awards, which were previously organised by Hambleton District Council.

After sponsorship of the awards was taken over the Herriot County Tourism Group it was decided to expand the competition to include businesses based in Richmondshire and to introduce three new awards.

Local businesses can submit entries to be considered for a number of accolades, including breakfast of the year, tea room of the year and specialist retailer of the year.

There will also be a special Reader’s Choice Award, sponsored by the Darlington and Stockton Times.

The awards are now in their seventh year and have received thousands of nominations from local businesses which are then judged by mystery shoppers to decide on the winners of each category.

Annie Stirk, food and drink consultant of Yorkshire Life magazine, said: "This is a great opportunity for Herriot Country’s fabulous local food businesses to let us know all about themselves. It’s time for the best in the area to receive the recognition they deserve, and it will once again be a pleasure and a privilege for me to help choose the winners."

Any businesses wishing to nominate themselves for the Flavours of Herriot Country awards should go to www.welcometoherriotcountry.com/form.html.

All nominations should be submitted before July 1.

The full list of categories: · Breakfast of the Year – sponsored by Absolutely Food PR & Marketing · Tea Room of the Year – sponsored by the Mad Hatter Tea Company · Food Producer of the Year – sponsored by Lewis & Cooper Ltd · Village Shop of the Year – sponsored by Welcome To Yorkshire · Specialist Retailer of the Year – sponsored by Dooleys of Easingwold · Foods of the World – sponsored by Falcon Press Ltd · Dining Pub of the Year – sponsored by the Black Sheep Brewery · Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chapters Hotel & Restaurant · Independent Butcher of the Year – sponsored by Vale of Mowbray · Fish and Chip Shop of the Year – sponsored by Welcome to Yorkshire · Reader’s Choice of the Year – sponsored by Darlington and Stockton Times · Independent Brewery of the Year – sponsored by Falcon Press Ltd · Outstanding Achievement of the Year – sponsored by Grand Central Railway Company