A TOP accolade has gone the way of a Dee Valley estate owner.

Lord Newborough, the owner of Rhug Estate near Corwen has been announced as Slow Food Cymru / Wales’ person of the year for creating the first drive-thru on a farm in the UK.

Nia Williams, the director of Slow Food Cymru / Wales, nominated Lord Newborough for the unique award.

She said, “Rhug’s drive thru is as far from fast food as it can be.

"We salute the work Lord Newborough has done.

"He’s looked at the large fast food chains and thought – do you know what – I can’t join them but I can beat them.

"This fits in completely with the whole ethos of the Slow Food movement.

"Lord Newborough is Wales’ answer to Carlo Petrini, the founder of Slow Food in Italy.”

Slow Food is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.

It was founded in 1989 in Italy by Carlo Petrini in response to the fast food chain McDonalds opening near the Spanish Steps in Rome.

Lord Newborough said: “I am honoured to have been chosen for this award.

"In this busy world we live in I recognise that not everyone has the time to stop and enjoy a delicious meal in our bistro or at the take away, so the new drive thru complements the facilities we already have.

"It provides an easy solution to the hungry traveller who wants to get back on their journey on the busy A5, where we are situated, without delay.

"Thanks to all those who have supported us since we opened the drive thru in the summer - we’ve had a lot of positive feedback from customers.”

For more details about the Slow Food organisation, visit www.slowfood.org.uk/scwa18/