THE Organic Farm Shop, based just outside Cirencester at Abbey Home Farm, is one of three finalists in the Best Food Retailer category for the BBC’s National Food and Farming Awards.

The farm shop beat more than 500 other retailers to make the list of finalists, announced on Sunday on The Food Programme.

Judges will be visiting the business, which started as a tiny shop and café employing four people in 1999, with winners to be announced in June.

Managed by Hilary Chester-Master, the farm shop now employs over 30 people, mostly from the local area.

The neighbouring award-winning café serves meals mainly inspired by the market garden and meat from the farm.