East Anglian firms will compete for national titles after winning their regional categories in a rural business awards scheme.

Norwich Evening News: Dairy Barns, Lound Farm, Hickling.Dairy Barns, Lound Farm, Hickling. (Image: Countryside Alliance)

The Rural Oscars are the Countryside Alliance's annual celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage.

The East of England category winners, who will go through to the British finals in March, include Dairy Barns in Hickling, which won the tourism enterprise award, and Green Pastures, in Bergh Apton, outside Norwich, which was judged the best farm enterprise.

On Dairy Barns, awards judge Sarah Lee said: 'This is an ingenious way to keep a farm going – diversify part of the business into high-end bed and breakfast accommodation.'

Jill Grieve, who judged the farm enterprise category, said the family-run Green Pastures garden centre, farm shop and cafe, is 'an excellent farm enterprise as it brings together local produce in the farm shop and café and, unusually, a Post Office counter.'