Cheese makers Kevin and Alison Blunt have received royal recognition for their goats milk cheese.

The couple, who run Greenacres Farm at Whitesmith, near Lewes, won a gold award for the best white soft cheese at the British Cheese Awards for their Golden Cross cheese.

The presentation was made by Prince Charles, patron of the Specialist Cheese Manufacturers Association.

Mr and Mrs Blunt also won The Aldridge Trophy, an award in memory of cheese maker James Aldridge, who fought the Government for the right to produce raw milk cheeses.

The award, a hand-painted plate was designed by the Prince.

Mrs Blunt said cheese producers in the UK owed a debt of gratitude to Mr Aldrige, who died this year.

"James was passionate about raw mild cheese and was a great help to us in the early days of the business. He really helped us to get started."

The Blunts took over Greenacres Farm in 1984 but only started producing Golden Cross cheese in 1989.

They started with a herd of 30 goats and now have more than 220 producing milk and another 80 young animals.

The cheese is sold throughout the country and can be bought at Say Cheese in Lewes, Corbins, of Uckfield and fresh from the farm.

In the summer, the farm produces more than 1,600 cheeses a week.

All are unpasteurised, contain vegetarian rennet and are hand-made from lading the curd to the final wrapping.