TYRRELLS, the Herefordshire potato crisp manufacturer, has reached the finals of a national community awards scheme for its work with local schools.

The Leominster-based company works with 600 primary school pupils in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Powys and Shropshire on a practical food education programme, which sees the youngsters grow their own potatoes, which are then turned into a premium snack by Tyrrells.

The efforts have been acknowledged by the UK Community Partnership Awards, organised by the Food & Drink Federation.

The winners will be announced on Tuesday, October 28 at a prestigious ceremony in Westminster, London.

Julie Lewis of Tyrrells said: “It’s great to see the pupils so enthusiastic about the process from planting the potatoes in pots, tyre stacks or in small corners of their football pitches, to delivering the harvest to the Tyrrells production manager and seeing them being turned into crisps before their very eyes.”