MRS Muffins Tea Shop in Ledbury and the Three Crowns Inn at Ullingswick have been chosen to represent Herefordshire in the new Heart of England Food and Drink Excellence Awards, writes ANITA HOWELLS.

The honour comes after the restaurants were singled out for first prizes in the Flavours of Herefordshire competition at the Left Bank Village last week.

Mrs Muffins Tea Shop was made tea room of the year and The Three Crowns Inn won the restaurant of the year prize and was overall winner.

The competition awards restaurants for making the most of local produce, preserving traditional dishes and creating new ones.

Winners also include: The Stagg at Titley, highly commended for Restaurant of the Year; Caf @ All Saints and Monkland Cheese Dairy, highly commended for Tea Room of the Year; Felton House, Felton, winner of Herefordshire Breakfast of the Year; Grafton Villa Farm, Grafton, Haie Barn, Dorstone and Upper Newton Farmhouse B&B, Kinnersley, highly commended for the Herefordshire Breakfast of the Year; Monkland Cheese Dairy and Orchard Hive and Vine, Leominster, joint winners of the Specialist Retailer of the Year; The Hop Pocket Wine Company, Bishops Frome, highly commended for Specialist Retailer of the Year; Canon Pyon Stores and Village Green Stores, Kingsland, joint winners of the Village Shop of the Year; Cheyney Lodge Cider Company, Bishops Frome, winner of the Food Producers award and Wynne's of Dinmore, Hope under Dinmore, highly commended for the Food Producers award.

Referring to the effects of foot and mouth this year, Herefordshire Council's tourism officer, Sarah Grout, said: "The award has helped to show just how interwoven the farming and tourism industries are in this county. Knowing the source of the produce reinforces the distinctiveness that we are trying to promote."

The prize winners will be featured in a special booklet to be launched in October. They may also be taking part in the Oktoberfest, beginning with the Big Apple weekend on October 13 and 14 and ending with the Cidermaking Festival Weekend at the Cider Museum in Hereford on October 20 and 21.