AN ice cream producer under threat from the Hulton Park development has won an award at a prestigious agricultural show.

Milk Maids, which is based at Deardens Farm in Over Hulton, was presented with the honour at the Great Yorkshire Show for its strawberry flavour.

It is the second award won for the farm's ice cream after they won silver for their salted caramel flavour at the same show last year.

Fiona Partington, who runs Milk Maids with her sister Rebecca, said: "It is a big agricultural show in its 185th year.

"So there are a lot of big traders and companies who supply the likes of Marks and Spencer and Asda.

"And there are a lot of independent businesses so I was really pleased with the award

"I think for us, it is great that a small-time provider can win something like this above all these big traders."

The 22-year-old started producing the ice cream at the premises off Manchester Road in 2016.

The farm has also won awards for its milk at the Great Yorkshire Show in the past.

The recent accolade comes four months after Peel Land and Property was granted permission by Bolton Council to create a Ryder Cup golf course and 1,036 homes on Hulton Park.

It can only go ahead if it gets the nod to host the 2026 Ryder Cup but if it does then the Partingtons could lose their farm and accompanying businesses.

Miss Partington said: "This award just makes me more determined that we are going to carry on regardless.

"It just shows that Peel is destroying something that is really good."

Milk Maids has recently been helping the Over Hulton Community Group in its fundraising efforts to purchase a defibrillator for the community.

Every time the store sells a scoop of its vanilla ice cream, it donates 10p to the collection.

They recently handed over about £70 to the group and wants to raise about £500 to go towards the campaign.