A PRESTON company has scooped a prestigious Queen's Award 2000 for its lead on international trade.

Singletons Dairy Ltd, which employs 81 staff based in Longridge, is a producer of top quality cheese to markets in America, Belgium, Sweden, Holland and Germany.

Established in 1934, the dairy also provides a loading and shipping service for other cheese makers and in order to combat consumers' ignorance of British cheese, more than £100,000 has been invested over the last three years in in-store demonstrations, tastings and seminars in the company's main markets.

Building on a grant from MAFF, the company in co-operation with other cheese makers, offers a full range of cheese direct from the producers to the distributor or retailer.

A total of nine North West companies have won an award -- mainly for innovation, international trade and environmental achievement. A presentation ceremony will be held at the dairy farm shortly with three representatives from Singletons attending a reception at Buckingham Palace where they will formally meet The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.

John Carr, from Singletons Dairy, said: "We are absolutely delighted to win this award.

"You can't sit around and hope that business will come to you and this award reflects the continuing success that Singletons have had in adapting their products and services to suit a world market.

"Everyone here at Singletons are over the moon, we shall be drinking some beer in Longridge tonight!"

He added: "Winning this award is the culmination of five years' hard work. We have a dedicated workforce here who have shown the rest of the dairy industry in the UK just what is possible with good products and a real desire to succeed in a world market."