A WORCESTER cheese-maker has been hobnobbing with royalty at an event to help rural food producers, held at St James's Palace.

Alyson Anstey, of Anstey's of Worcester, appeared on the rostrum alongside the Prince of Wales, at the launch of the guide to Local Sourcing - Growing Rural Business.

As well as speaking at last week's prestigious event, which was filmed for a television broadcast, Mrs Anstey and her husband Colin were also contributing authors to the report, aimed at helping rural food producers diversify and encouraging food retailers to source locally.

To cap it off, the cheese served at the 150-head lunch was Anstey's Old Worcester White, fresh from Broomhall Farm, where Mr and Mrs Anstey have been making cheese since 1984.

"It was such a great honour to be involved in such a prestigious event," said Mr Anstey.

"You can't fail to be impressed by the Prince of Wales - he's very behind rural industries and their recovery and is very supportive of local producers.

"He's very charming and gave us plenty of time, one-on-one."

The guide, Local Sourcing - Growing Rural Business, has been produced by the Institute of Grocery Distribution in conjunction with Business in the Community, an organisation of more than 700-companies, many in the FTSE 100, committed to improving their positive impact on society.

The guide aims to help the increasing number of rural, small businesses who produce local food and drink products, by demonstrating how local sourcing, conducted in the right way, can be sound business practice for everyone involved.

In the forward, the Prince said he hoped the guide would be "one positive step in the process of revitalising our farming and rural communities".

"Supporting our local food producers will help create a viable future for agriculture," he said.

Ten thousand copies of the guide have been sent to rural food businesses around Britain.

The guide forms part of Business in the Community's Rural Action Plan, launched in July.

The plan focuses on practical measures to encourage business involvement in three key areas - building enterprising communities, strengthening market towns and supporting local sourcing.

Copies of the guide can be obtained by e-mailing: localsourcing@igd.com