The Countryside Aliance’s search for the best businesses in the East of England involved many categories and this time the best traditional business was judged to be CWG, Central Wool Growers, the Stamford based firm with an outlet in Market Rasen.

Last year Bob Oakes at Cold Hanworth Forge won the same category.

The Alliance’s regional director Alice Barnard says: “Although CWG itself is a comparatively large company in comparison to some of the other entries it is also nurturing a traditional skill.

“The wool-grading arm of CWG is essential to farmers all over the East and Midlands. They are providing a service that is gradually dwindling.”

The grading team in Stamford has over 100 years grading experience between them and most of the work is still done by hand.

“This is a business that is keeping the traditional British skills alive in a world of imports, mechanisation and stiff competition. CWG richly deserve this award,” she said.

Run across 12 UK regions and four categories, the 2007 competition received over 2,500 nominations.

Best local food category - Horstead Farming Group, Beeston St Andrew, Norfolk; Best village shop/post office - Otley Village shop, Otley, Ipswich, Suffolk; Best diversification - Yole farm butchers, Balsham, Cambridgeshire

All four winners are now put forward fora national award to be determined on February 8.