SOUTH Dorset MP Jim Knight presented the first batch of certificates in a buy local campaign to help county food producers.

Five firms were given the go-ahead from the county council's trading standards service to carry a Direct from Dorset label on locally-sourced and produced goods.

The scheme has been set up by trading standards and the South West Regional Development Agency to boost the rural economy.

Casterbridge Pigs, based at Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester, Pampered Pigs in Tolpuddle, Craig's Farm Dairy, from Osmington, Denhay Farms Limited in the Marshwood Vale and Peaceful Poultry in the Blackmoor Vale received accreditation.

At the presentation ceremony, at Kingston Maurward House, Mr Knight said he was considering having a Direct from Dorset label stamped on his shirt for when he speaks in the House of Commons.

He said: "There is a crisis in British agriculture and we need to do as much as we can to alleviate that.

"We are following on from various food scares. It's the consumer that Direct from Dorset seeks to address. The reason I choose to buy my Sunday roast locally is because it's fantastic. But it's an effort - and consumers are not known for making an effort. "This scheme makes it easier for consumers to buy locally, it helps farm shops and other agricultural businesses and encourages local trading, keeping our pounds circulating in the county."

Dorset Trading Standards Service district manager Derrick Grimes said: "It seems that the larger firms have seen the benefits first. Now is the time when we'll see the labels out in the shops.

"The more labels are in the shops, the more the public will start buying Direct from Dorset goods and other producers will see the benefits."

Dorset Chamber of Commerce chief executive Tony Bridger said the aim of the scheme was to create greater confidence in local goods, to aid Dorset's rural economy and to encourage Dorset residents and visitors to buy local produce.

John Peake, chairman of Dorset County Council, urged scheme organisers to encourage local schools, hospitals, prisons and the defence industry's Dorset bases to use county produce.

Kevin Crocker, of Pampered Pigs, said: "We have always been very keen on keeping down food mileage and keeping local food for local people, so this fits our policy. This scheme is useful for the public, who are now able to see exactly where a product has come from."

Ivan Smith, commercial director of Kingston Maurward, said college bosses were considering opening a shop on the site selling goods produced at Kingston Maurward and bearing a Kingston Maurward label.

He said the farm was concentrating on promoting pork in the initial stages of the scheme, but there were plans to expand with lamb and beef.