One of Britain’s smallest cheese producers is about to reach millions of customers for the first time after winning a prestigious competition.

Three-man operation Cornish Cheese Company recently had its Cornish Blue cheese voted the most delicious ‘unknown’ variety in Britain by Tesco at its annual Cheese Challenge competition.

The cheese made near in a farmhouse near Liskeard saw off more than 80 other UK challengers to win the contest and will hit shelves in autumn.

Winning the contest has meant a Tesco contract potentially worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and the chance to get the cheese known across the UK.

Said Tesco cheese expert Mike Seymour: "Cornish Blue has been one of the cheese world’s best kept secrets known only to a small number of gourmets in Cornwall but now we want to help turn it into a world beater."

"We believe that Cornish Blue could soon be spoken about with the same reverence normally reserved for such classic British cheeses as Cheddar, Stilton, Red Leicester, and Double Gloucester."

"Now we will get the cheese put on sale as quickly as possible - and let the great British public decide for itself."