PRODUCERS of Lancashire cheese are set for a leap in profits after the traditional delicacy was given funding to boost its marketing.

A group of 10 firms, including Singletons at Longridge, and Chipping's Leagram Organic Dairy, have joined together and will receive funding from the Milk Development Council for their own marketing campaign.

The consortium's campaign, being run by a Manchester-based PR company, will focus on making consumers aware of the three distinct types of Lancashire cheese crumbly, creamy and tasty, and what kind of recipe suits each one.

"There is no doubt in my mind that this funding will help increase the awareness of what fine cheeses are produced by Lancashire cheesemakers," said John Carr, of Singletons, which won the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's Exporter of the Year Award at our business awards in September.

"We use some of the finest milk in the country.

"And family firms, rather than big factories, use skills passed down through generations to produce crumbly, creamy and tasty Lancashire cheeses to suit all tastes.

"Lancashire cheese is about tradition, family values and supporting the local farming community."

Liz Broadbent, marketing director at the Milk Development Council, said: "The aim is for these small producers to emulate the success of the West Country Farmhouse Cheesemakers who joined forces and, match-funded by us, increased sales by almost 20per cent."

The Milk Development Council is a non-departmental public body, established by agriculture ministers following the re-organisation of the milk industry at the end of 1994.

The body, funded by a statutory levy on milk sold off farms in Great Britain and run by an 11-member council, aims to provide opportunities, insights and expertise to help dairy farmers improve their profits.

According to the MDC, sales of territorial cheese are growing ahead of the overall cheese market.

Cheshire, Stilton and West Country Farmhouse Cheesemakers have already benefited from working with the council.