A HERD of pedigree cows in Pendle has been getting five star treatment since their owner built an award-winning cattle shed.

It is official that they now live in the North's best agricultural building.

Mark Hartley, who owns Pendle Valley Farm, in Roughlee, received the building award as part of the Farm and Country Buildings Awards, organised by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

He also won the sponsor's award, a special prize from Eternit Building Materials, for the best new building in the Northern area, which includes Lancashire, Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire.

The judges who saw Mr Hartley's development, which is close to his already award-winning caravan park, said: "Agricultural buildings do not arouse a great deal of interest generally but Mr Hartley has created something different, both practical and attractive to the eye and very sympathetic to the surrounding landscape."

Mr Hartley uses the building, which has a galvanised steel frame, brown fibre cement roof and timber sides above block walls, to house his herd of pedigree Belgian Blues.

One of the judges said: "For a working building Mr Hartley has shown care and attention to detail. The ventilation for the cattle is to his own design and works well. The building is superb in every way and sits well in the landscape with Pendle Hill in the background."

Mr Hartley was presented with a cast iron plaque and certificates, as the owner and designer of the building, by the Hon. Ralph Assheton, a CLA Lancashire committee member and landowner.

He also received a trophy case for the Eternit prize. Richard Mason, of Lancaster-based RE Buildings, was presented with a certificate as the building firm on the project.

Five-star style for

cows