A SMALL West Country farm has scooped an award for animal welfare, ethics and overall husbandry.

West Country Quality Meat, situated in the village of Lilstock between Minehead and Bridgwater, won the Good Pig Award on July 30.

The farm, owned by Sam Crawford and Jackie Bone, is a producer of native rare breed Oxford, sandy and black free range pigs, along with other products.

Currently, it is the only farm in Somerset to hold the prestigious award.

The Compassion in Food Business website states that to be eligible, you need to be a well-known or notable food company based in Europe which can satisfy the welfare criteria, either as a current policy or on a five year commitment basis.

The welfare criteria for pigs includes no tail docking, no teeth clipping or grinding, no surgical castration or provision of adequate manipulable material and bedding throughout life.

Partner of the farm, Sam Crawford, said: “We started marketing through our website and social media and tweeting about our business.”

“We were approached and encouraged to enter the Good Pig Award and were extremely proud to have won.

"The award means an awful lot to us and shows that we are going in the right direction.

“It promotes proper husbandry and ethics that are long forgotten.

“We look after our free range pigs and couldn’t be happier.”