THERE'S a delicious new cheese on the block thanks to an exciting link forged between Low Sizergh Barn farm shop and highly-respected Lancashire cheese-maker Chris Sandham.

He's now using milk from Low Sizergh's organic dairy herd for his latest creamy Crumbly' creation and farm shop customers simply can't get enough of it.

"We're selling three cheeses a week," said Low Sizergh's Alison Park that's about 11.5 kilos (more than 20lbs).

It was a chance remark which led to the new cheese. Low Sizergh is not able to sell all of its organic milk so using some of it to make cheese is a wonderful way of adding value to the product.

"Chris is a respected cheese-maker," commented Alison. "Using our milk he has produced a fresh-tasting, young Lancashire cheese which people have been buying and buying again."

Chris, who is based at Barton, near Preston, used to use organic milk from a pool' of local farms. Now he uses only Low Sizergh for his organic Lancashire cheese and, as a result, sales have soared.

"From our point of view it's nice to know where the organic milk is coming from. I can tell all my customers about this farm. Our organic cheese sales have definitely gone up," said Chris, whose handiwork is on sale across the UK.

Sandhams have been making cheese since 1929 so they know their stuff when it comes to Lancashire Crumbly. And I know my stuff when it comes to eating it. It's been my comfort food for more than 40 years sandwiched between two slices of the white stuff with lashings of picallili.

I treated myself to a wedge of the new Low Sizergh cheese which sells at only 96p per 125g. It didn't even make it to the bread! Absolutely fabulous!

April 10, 2003 11:00