Hawkshead Relish has been named as a regional finalist in the fourth Rural Business Awards.

It is in the running to win the Best Rural Manufacturing Business category for the North.

The awards celebrate the success of businesses across the UK’s rural economy, which employs in excess of 3.4 million people, in over 750,000 businesses in England.

For the first time since launching in 2014, the awards will host regional finals in the North, East, Midlands, South East, South West, Wales and Northern Ireland during October, ahead of the grand final in February in Worcestershire, where the winners from each of category in every region will be announced.

The Cumbrian company is up against Breckenholme from North Yorkshire, Fin Hunter UK from Roxburghshire, Harrison Spinks from West Yorkshire and Skyeskyns from the Isle of Skye.

Maria Whitehead, MBE, co-owner of Hawkshead Relish, added: “We’ve had a fabulous year so far, being presented with further accolades for our innovative products, including our latest creation, Black Garlic Pickle. Being shortlisted for an award like this marks the efforts of the entire team.

"We hope that we can do the team proud and win through for them and for Cumbria.

"Then if we are lucky enough to get through to the national finals we can see about bringing home one of the national plaudits too.’’