DINERS who enjoy "pub grub" and think local produce is best can enter their favourite pub for an award.

The Countryside Alliance's "Campaign for Honest Food" has launched its annual competition to celebrate local produce.

Called Local to Locals, the competition aims to promote and support local producers and suppliers through raising awareness of the benefits of seasonal and local produce.

If diners are satisfied their pub is supporting local producers, they can nominate it for an award.

The competition was first run in 2001, when more than 400 pubs were nominated.

Both the Talbot, at Knightwick, near Worcester, and the Boat Inn, Herefordshire, have been short-listed in past years.

"It is only consumers, either directly or through the pubs they eat and drink at, who can keep the food producers of this country in business," said a spokesman for the Countryside Alliance.

"We need to show the Government that there is a great demand for locally produced food in this country and that British really is best.

"Local producers depend on local outlets and what better way to sell local produce than to the customers of a local pub?"

Nomination cards are available from Helen Szamuely, Countryside Alliance Campaign for Honest Food, Kennington Road, London SE11 4PT or click on: www.countryside-alliance.org/honestfood.