A FARMING family in Moss Bank is celebrating after being recognised in a national Best of Organic competition.

Shoots Delph Farm, in Moss Bank Road, has been producing organic beef and lamb for 10 years, and these are sold on site alongside other organic goods.

Jack Forster, 29, runs the farm - which has around 100 cattle and 300 sheep - along with his mother Anne. But other family members, including Jack's gran and his three-year-old son Joseph, also muck in.

Jack, formerly a rugby league player with Sale Sharks and Gloucester, said: "It's a real family affair. It's now been through five generations. We are lucky to have kept it going through some challenging times.

"This award really means a lot, especially to a small farm like us - we were runner-up in the meat and poultry category and came second to a much larger enterprise with greater resources than us. So we are delighted."

Judges in the Soil Association's Boom awards, described the farm's cushion of lamb as having "great flavour" and "incredible intensity".

Jack, who is married to Danielle, added: "What we do is quite different to conventional farming - our animals are outside as much as possible, not packed into a shed.

"They are all grass fed and free range so they can roam and get exercise.

"Around 10 years ago, the way the market was changing, we decided to go organic - we were up against products like Cumbria Lamb and Welsh Black Beef."

Jack's mother Anne, who attended the awards at London's Borough Market, said: "It was great to go to the awards and be recognised - we've had mentions before, but this was the first award.

"People always comment on our lamb and beef - and we also sell organic poultry and pork, dairy produce and vegetables.

"We open the shop for two days a week but we are growing and might start to open for a third day.

"We have three staff and my husband Chris' mum Jan still helps out too."

The shop is open on Thursdays from 11am to 5.30pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.

For information email info@forsterorganics.com or call Anne on 07944 664523.