A LOCAL farm shop has swept the board to be named as "The Garden Centre of the Year".

Retailer Brown and Green, based at the Three Shires Garden Centre, between Dymock and Newent, came tops out of three hundred entries nationwide, in the UK's Farm Shop and Deli Awards, for the garden centre business category

Susie Keenan, director and founder of Brown and Green said: "We are very proud indeed to receive this accolade for our store. Our team are passionate about the local and artisan produce we sell.

"Attention to detail is our mantra."

She added: "We'd like to thank our customers who voted for us, and continue to support us since we opened nearly seven years ago now, when we were called Shepherd's Farm Shop, as well as all our fantastic local suppliers."

The Farm Shop and Deli Awards aim to recognise the very best standards in speciality retail and to celebrate the highest levels

Judge Neil Nugent, Executive Chef and Head of Product Development at Morrison’s said “The Awards are a brilliant opportunity for the UK’s small independent businesses like Brown and Green to get recognition nationally and enable them to become a destination.”

Brown and Green was one of twelve category winners were chosen by a panel of judges chaired by Nigel Barden of BBC Radio 2.

He said “It's gratifying to know that there are so many excellent purveyors of food and drink in Britain, like Brown and Green.

"During the mystery visits I have been delighted, moved and inspired by the people I've met and it's marvellous to find local retailers like Brown and Green are so much at the heart of their community.”