A WEST Dorset bakery is celebrating after scooping a top award for a ‘local loaf’.

Leakers Bakery in Bridport has been named a winner of the Great Taste Awards 2016.

The business fought off competition from 10,000 other products to claim the prize for its pure sourdough rye loaf.

Leakers’ loaf was judged by more than 500 people including food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs and producers - as well as a host of food writers and journalists. The winner loaf was chosen for its flavour.

Jemima Dasent from Leakers Bakery, said: “It is a truly local loaf.

“It’s made with flour from Stoates Cann Mill in nearby Shaftesbury and baked on the premises in our East Street bakery.

“As with all our breads it’s hand-made without additives or improvers.

“We are always delighted to have our products recognised in the Great Taste Awards and our bakery team can be very proud.”

Great Taste is widely acknowledged as a respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers.

The unmistakeable black and gold Great Taste label is seen by the company as a badge of honour, which has been discovered through hours and hours of blind-tasting by hundreds of judges.

Recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers and retailers, Great Taste values taste above all else, with no regard for branding and packaging.

Whether it is bread, honey, salami or cereal being judged, all products are removed from their wrapper, jar, box or bottle before being tasted.

Leakers will be sampling the award-winning sourdough rye loaf in store over the coming days alongside other Great Taste award winning items from previous years which include the businesses crusty country white, five seed malted sourdough loaves and both fruit and date and ginger scones.

The latest accolade is Leakers’ fifth Great Taste award following the bakery’s success in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015.

The business boasts that its breads, savouries, cakes, scones and pastries are hand-made from scratch and baked on the premises in brick-floored ovens in Bridport.

Leakers don’t use additives in any baked products.

Master Baker G.S. Leaker took over the bakery in 1914 and the shop today retains its charming and original fittings from the 1950s. For more information, visit leakersbakery.co.uk