A FARM shop is celebrating after winning an award less than a year after opening.

Seasons opened in North Dean at the end of last October and have just won the Chiltern Society Farm Shop Award.

It is also in the running for a Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Life Food Award. The judging was based on criteria such as local produce, quality of service, range of products.

Alison Kent, who runs the shop with her husband, Charlie, said: "We are pleasantly surprised because we haven't been trading a year yet.

"When we opened the shop it was with a hope there was a demand for quality food, not an expectation. But everyone has been so supportive."

She was inspired to open the shop when she realised she would come back from the supermarket without any meat in her trolley, because she didn't like the lack of traceability.

Now they sell meat from their herd of 80 Hereford Cattle, their Oxford Sandy and Black Pigs and locally grazed sheep.

Mrs Kent said: "It has 100 per cent traceability. There is no horse meat in sight. The traceability is a growing factor in people purchasing food.

"They also look to support local farms."

The family have been farming in the Chiltern Hills for more than 50 years.

The shop also sells artisan cheeses, high quality produce, plant and gifts. They use local suppliers where possible and their emphasis is on quality.

They also have a café on site.

She added: "We have so many lovely customers. I heard something on Radio 2- the secret now to successful retail is service.

"People knowing your name when you go into a shop and passing the time of day with you is very important."

For more details go to http://seasons-farmshop.co.uk/