FOOD producers from the Swindon area have won a clutch of accolades at Taste Of The West Awards.

It was a vintage year for Arkell's Brewery, which took seven awards, while Brinkworth Dairy scooped two and Helen Browning’s Organic lifted five.

More than 1,000 food and drink products from Wiltshire, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Gloucestershire were sampled during the judging in Exeter.

Alex Arkell, the head brewer at Arkell’s said: “We go up against some of the best breweries in the country so it’s a huge pat on the back for all the Arkell’s brewhouse team.”

The firm took gold for its Kingsdown, Moonlight, Hoperation and Desi Biyar brews and both Kingsdown and Desi Biyar have been chosen to go into the next round of judging, where they will compete for champion product and supreme champion for 2017 later in the year.

Desi Biyar was brewed for Bristol’s street food outfit the Thali Café as an accompaniment for the chicken tikka grill.

“Desi Biyar has a soft malty sweetness, which not only balances nicely with the spiciness of the chicken, but also draws out the caramelised flavours that come through from the grill,” said Alex.

“The beer then finishes off with a good bit of fizz which gives the meal a refreshing lift.”

The brewery at Kingsdown also won silver for Wiltshire Gold (bottled) and Bee’s Organics, as well as a highly commended for the Christmas beer Sir Noel Ale.

Brinkworth Dairy was delighted to receive silver awards for its salted butter and vanilla yoghurt products, especially as it has only recently started making flavoured yoghurts.

“It’s the first award either of these products have had. That’s wonderful,” said Ceri Cryer.

She revived the farm dairy a decade ago with milk from her parents’ pedigree Friesian cows and help from husband Chad and the family.

The dairy also recently won a best food producer title in the Western Daily Press Food and Farming Awards.

Ceri was keen to read the judges’ comments and find out what they need to do to win gold next year.

Helen Browning’s Organic won gold awards for its smoked back bacon and unsmoked streaky bacon, along with silvers for its unsmoked back bacon, hot dogs and Speedy Sausages.

Spokesman Claire Bailey said they were delighted to have picked up five awards.

“We’re particularly proud of our Speedy Sausages as this is their first ever award - 96 per cent pork with a gentle spicy kick,” she said.

“Kids love them, they’re gluten-free, quick cook and no added bread or cheap rusk.

“We think the great taste of our products reflects the organic, high welfare, outdoor rearing of ours pigs.”

The business in Bishopstone, founded by Soil Association chief executive Helen Browning, won the most innovative sausage class at the British Sausage Awards last year for its hot dogs.

Other local winners include Chocolatiers Lick The Spoon, from Corsham, Marshfield Farm Ice Cream, Cotteswold Dairy, from Cheltenham, the Flying Monk Brewery from Hullavington and Wiltshire Bacon Company from Trowbridge.