"We produce the best": British cheese put to the test at the Bath and West Showground
Six hundred cheeses have been entered into the British and Irish Cheese Awards
The search for the "supreme champion" cheese is underway at the British and Irish Cheese Awards.
The event marks the start of the Bath and West Food and Drink Festival which opens to the public on Saturday 22nd March.
Six hundred cheeses have been entered, with a range a varieties from across the country.
"British produce is essential to this country," said chairman, Julius Longman.
"We overtook the number of cheeses against the French a couple years ago and it's a very proud industry, the dairy industry.
"The showground is in the heart of Somerset, only 20 minutes away from Cheddar so the history here is twofold."
Entries include 53 varieties of cheddar, 49 blue cheeses, as well as soft, smoked and flavoured, from across the UK and Ireland.
The cheese will be judged in individual classes during round one, as the panel decides upon Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners, before all Gold winners are judged again to identify the category winners.
It's hoped the celebration of these cheeses will inspire people to back the best of British produce.
"If the public don't support the dairy industry they will lose these wonderful cheeses," said judge Bay Bardwell.
"So it's really important to get behind us and show the world we do produce the best."