IT was very much a case of "nice to see ewe" as Prince Charles dropped in to meet staff and producers at Tebay Services' southbound farm shop this morning.
The M6 motorway service station is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and a Channel 4 camera crew, which is filming a documentary about the Westmorland Farm Shop, was also on hand to capture the Prince's visit which culminated in him unveiling a special plaque to commemorate the historic occasion.
Farm shop manager Alan Roberts, who lives at Tebay, gave His Royal Highness a sample of Love Ewe Brie, made by the Kirkby Lonsdale-based Love Ewe Ship Milk Dairy.
"It's absolutely delicious," said Mr Roberts.
Mr Roberts added: "It's going to be on our TV programme (which starts its second series) this week, but he absolutely loved it.
"I took him through all our local cheeses."
He then saw the Baron Brigod Brie, which Mr Roberts said he knew was one of the Prince's favourites, and His Royal Highness asked him if he could buy a piece.
"So I cut him a piece of it," said Mr Roberts.
Inside the farm shop, Prince Charles also visited the butchery section and met with apprentices taking part in the butchery training scheme.
But the farm shop is not all about food - there are all sorts of locally produced items which make great gifts as well.
During his visit, the Prince also met James Dean, of Tebay, who has done a number of pencil drawings that he sells as greeting cards.
"I gave His Royal Highness a signed original of the Highland cow and a calf. He said he had been looking at some Highland cows at Darlington market as well. I think he is quite a big fan of the cattle."
During the visit, His Royal Highness was introduced to Sarah Dunning, chairwoman of Westmorland Family Limited, which owns Tebay Services.
Of the experience, she said: "It was just fabulous. Most of all for all our colleagues, it has been so exciting for them and they will remember it for a long time to come."
Tebay services remains the only family-run service station in the United Kingdom, working with more than 70 producers from within a 30-mile radius.
With 4.5 million visitors a year, Tebay services is a lifeline for the local community who work and trade there, Prince Charles was told.
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