A FARM shop and deli near Ilminster has been crowned the best in the county - just 18 months after the owners took over.

The Trading Post Farm Shop has picked up the Muddy Stiletto Award for Best Farm Shop & Deli in Somerset.

It comes after current owners Kate and Andy Forbes took over the reins at the Lopenhead store just six weeks before Christmas 2017.

A spokesman for the shop said: "They knew they had their work cut out.

"Kate was an old hand at the business having worked for the previous owner as the shop manager for nine years - so when she was given the opportunity to buy the shop outright she jumped at it.

"Within just six months, they were nominated by their customers for the Muddy Stiletto Award for Best Farm Shop & Deli in Somerset and were delighted on Saturday, May 19, when it was announced that they had won the coveted award."

Kate and Andy say they have a 'deep rooted ethos in local, organic and simply delicious fayre', with shoppers clearly agreeing as the shop has gone from strength to strength in the past six months.

"Kate and Andy took over with a bang – closing the doors for a just one day and when they re-opened the shop had been totally transformed - new shelving made from reclaimed apple crates gave the shop a much more farm shop feel and re-arranging the layout so that customers could flow around the shop yet see all the delights they had on offer," the spokesman said.

"They also introduced a brand new double sized pie and pastries counter with promises of many more exciting things to come – all of which has encouraged customers to come from far and wide to see what’s new.

"After the Christmas rush they sat down and planned their next move. With a massive increase in custom, an overflow car park was the first obvious major improvement, increasing their car parking capacity by another 30 vehicles.

"Next, they ripped out an old kitchenette that had historically been a bit of a dumping ground and here they created a clean, bright, delicious scented Home Corner - a space for even more local suppliers of handmade soaps, essential oils and hand scrubs, alongside environmentally friendly household cleaning products and toiletries."

The store neighbours the equally-successful Pip's Railway Carriage Cafe and stocks a range of products from the restaurant.

However, they are not stopping there, with plans already underway to change the garden centre part of the shop.