CHEESEMAKERS from Broadway and the North Cotswolds will be taking part in the prestigious British Cheese Awards later this month.

Gorsehill Abbey Farm, Collin Lane, Broadway, and Daylesford Creamery will be among 800 taking part in the event, which is known as the Oscars of the cheese world and attract entries from all across the UK.

The 2005 cheese awards form part of the annual Great British Cheese Festival which will take place this year on Friday, October 21 in Cheltenham.

Each year thousands of cheese lovers attend the festival, lured by the chance to see, taste and buy over 1,000 British cheeses, attend the popular masterclasses and workshops and discover the very best of British cheese, wines, beers and other regional food.

The key events will be held in Imperial Gardens behind Cheltenham Town Hall where Britain's biggest cheese market will host around 100 cheese makers from Britain and Ireland offering visitors the chance to taste and buy over 450 cheeses, while the Food from Britain Market adds depth to the event featuring over 40 mainly artisan producers.

Visitors can sample up to 30 English wines, award-winning fruit wines, ciders, perry and Hook Norton real ales while watching cheese tossing.

"The aim of the festival is to educate and inspire consumers," said spokeswoman Carole Pendle. "Around 35 masterclasses with 2,500 places available at the School for Big Cheeses will be located in Cheltenham Ladies' College while cheese and bread-making demonstrations and other workshops will be held in venues around the town."