A farming couple have made the transition from the countryside to the shelves of a top

London department store.

David and Marian Harding reverted to organic farming five years ago and came up with their very own selection of fruit-flavoured yoghurt drinks.

Buyers at Selfridges were so impressed with the drinks they snapped them up by the caseload and shoppers can now buy them in the store pi s food court.

The couple finished the transition from mainstream to organic two years ago at their farm, Court Lodge, at Wartling, near Hailsham.

Mr and Mrs Harding, who have two children, came up with the idea of the fruit drink last year.

The couple began selling it at farmers pi markets in the area and health food shops around Sussex and the South-East.

Mrs Harding, 46, said: "All the ingredients are certified organic and the milk has not been homogenised or standardised. The drink is less than three per cent fat and is ideal as a nutritious snack, healthy breakfast or light lunch."

The couple pi s land spans 420 acres and touches the edge of the Pevensey Levels Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Among the wildlife in the farm pi s ancient ditches and dykes is the nationally threatened fen raft spider, which eats insects and small fish.

Even the yoghurt has its own form of wildlife in the shape of live organisms lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria which help the digestive system.

Mrs Harding said: "We pi re delighted Selfridges thought it was good enough to sell to its clientele.

"Sales are going pretty well, which is a real compliment and a great reward for all our hard work on product development over the past year."

The drink is displayed with the label Court Lodge Organics.