THE cream of Ribble Valley milk producers has secured a deal supplying a national supermarket chain with locally-sourced milk.

Bowland Fresh, a firm made up of 15 farms in the Forest of Bowland, has agreed to supply seven of Asda's Lancashire stores, including Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley and Colne.

If successful, Bowland Fresh hopes to become the shop giant's main supplier throughout the North West.

At a time when rock-bottom milk prices are driving many dairy farmers out of the industry, Bowland Fresh farmers receive more than they would on the wholesale market.

And the producers said it meant consumers knew exactly where their milk came from and the they were supporting local farmers.

Martyn Bristol, a Bowland Fresh farmer who owns Crawshaw Farm, Back Lane, Newton-in-Bowland, said:

"This initiative puts us on a sounder footing for the present and gives us a much better future.

If it hadn't been for Bowland Fresh at least half of the farmers on the scheme would have gone out of business or retired."

Karen Todd, local sourcing manager for Asda, added: "Working with Bowland Fresh further highlights our commitment to working alongside local producers."

Along with Crawshaw Farm, those included in the scheme are Langden Holme, Dunsop Bridge; Cockshotts Farm and Withams Farm, Sabden; Manor House Farm, Slaidburn; Wiswell Eaves Farm, Wiswell; Horns Farm, Slaidburn; Forber Farm, Boarsden Farm, Longstripes Farm and Storth Farm, all Newton; Hodder Bank, Whitewell; Dickenson Farm, Pendleton; and Pendleton Hall and Limehouse Farm, Pendleton.