A FARMER from the Ledbury area will find himself competing with the Prince of Wales in a cheesemaking competition next week.

Charles Martell, of Dymock, has entered a number of cheeses in the British Cheese Awards 2001, on Friday, September 28, in Stow-on-the-Wold.

Among the other makers is Prince Charles, who has submitted a cheese made from Ayrshire milk from his Highgrove herd. He will also be at the show presenting awards.

Mr Martell started out in cheesemaking 30 years ago and has been instrumental in preserving the Old Gloucester breed of cow, famous for producing the milk for Double Gloucester cheese.

"When I started there were just 68 Old Gloucesters left in the world and I'm credited with restoring their numbers," he said.

Mr Martell decided to create interest in the breed by putting them back to their original task of making cheese. Since then he has broadened his range and now produces a Single Gloucester, Hereford Hop, Double Berkeley and two soft cheeses, May Hill Green and Stinking Bishop.

His cheeses sell not only nationally but internationally, with exports going to Japan, Malaysia and the USA.

His cheesemaking skills have also attracted attention overseas, with a French agriculture student visiting his farm earlier this year as part of her degree studies.

"Cheesemaking is an art, not a science and there's always something new to try," he said.