DORSET Cereals is celebrating the Queen's birthday today with news it has won a prestigious award.

The Dorchester company has received the Queen's Award for Enterprise in recognition of its export achievement in sending its healthy breakfast range all over the world.

Managing director Peter Farquhar said: "I am absolutely thrilled about the award. It's a real pat on the back for everyone here."

The award the country's leading business accolade was only one of three made to Dorset companies to mark the Queen's 80th birthday.

The company was successful in the international trade category.

Mr Farquhar paid special tribute to the two people who are responsible for the company's exports.

He said export sales manager Ben Policella and administrator Lucy Gardiner had boosted the company's export sector by 96 per cent in the past three years.

"That's fantastic. More than 25 per cent of our products go overseas.

"We send Dorset Cereals to nearly 60 countries across the world and we're looking at more new markets all the time.

"We're strong in the Middle East and Canada and in the Caribbean. In Jamaica they add Guinness and say our cereal is an aphrodisiac they must be our most passionate customers."

The mueslis and other breakfast cereals are also popular in the Far East and the company is about to look west to expand its presence in the United States.

Mr Farquhar, who bought the company a year ago with financial director Nigel Horsman from founder Terry Crabb, said: "There is a lot of potential there.

"We are the only UK muesli company exporting to the States, and that's where we're looking next."

Dorset Cereals employs around 50 people at its factory in Peverell Avenue East at Poundbury.

It has expanded to double its warehouse capacity and also has planning permission for a new relief road at the site to create a one-way route for lorries.

Mr Farquhar said: "We've got the space we need and we're happy here so we intend to stay at Poundbury."

Representatives from the company will attend an evening reception at Buckingham Palace to receive the award.

Winners are entitled to fly the award flag and display the emblem on advertising and packaging. The company started in 1989 and was awarded its first Queen's Award 10 years later.