SIX Welsh firms were handed gongs during the fourth annual Rural Business Awards.

Llaeth Y Llan/Village Dairy was named UK Runner-Up in the Best Rural Manufacturing Business category.

The family business is located outside the village of Llannefydd, near Denbigh. Established in 1985, Llaeth Y Llan started from humble beginnings - making yoghurt in the farmhouse airing cupboard in the 80s.

The company has now grown and moved into a modern linear manufacturing facility, still based on the Roberts family farm, where the capacity has increased to being capable of making in excess of a 100 tonnes a week.

Gruff Roberts, Llaeth Y Llan director, said: "We work hard to bring more dairy manufacturing into North Wales, creating the finest quality products while also supporting local dairy farmers, and are proud of the success we have achieved."

Adventure Parc Snowdonia was the winner of the overall Founders’ Award, as well as being named runner-up for Best Rural Recreational or Outdoor Pursuits Business.

Outright winners in their categories were Birchill Access Consultancy from Aberystwyth, which won Best Rural Professional Services Business; Crwst, from Cardigan, which won Best Rural Start-Up and Ceredigion-based community business Cwmni Cymunedol Cletwr Cyf, which won Rural Social Enterprise, Charity or Community Project of the Year.

Runners-up, along with Adventure Parc Snowdonia, were Dyfi Distillery for Best Rural Drink Business and Llaeth Y Llan for Best Rural Manufacturing Business.

The firms were handed accolades at a ceremony at Chateau Impney in Worcestershire.