A NATIONAL campaign to celebrate British lamb has begun, just weeks after its founder’s tragic death.

The sixth annual Love Lamb Week began on September 1, and follows the death of its founder and former Tyne Valley farmer Rachel Lumley in July.

She gained national attention when she founded the Love Lamb Week campaign in 2015, and the campaign has gone on to become a major national event.

A spokesman for the campaign said: “Rachel was the driving force behind the campaign’s launch, wanting lamb to get the attention it deserves.

“Through her leadership, as well as solid external support, Love Lamb Week has caught the attention of top chefs from across the world, as well as national press and broadcast media.”

The campaign has seen the National Sheep Association (NSA) work with partners to promote the quality of British lamb.

This year, for the first time, the campaign will highlight the key value of sustainability which lamb brings to the dinner table.

The chief executive of the NSA, Phil Stocker said: “NSA, as the voice for UK sheep farmers, has been proud to be involved with Love Lamb Week since the beginning.

“Rachel did a fantastic job in bringing the campaign to the notability it has today. All at NSA are proud to support and continue to build on the fantastic legacy Rachel started.”

Love Lamb Week 2020 will focus on emphasising the fantastic nutritional benefits of lamb and its unique role in sustainable meat production.

For this year's event, a new array of digital-friendly assets have been developed to promote the campaign.

It is hoped the assets, including recipes and infographs, will enthuse more producers, chefs, and the wider industry.

Rachel Lumley died suddenly at the Cumberland Infirmary on Monday, July 13. The cause of her death is currently unknown.

The former Blanchland farmer was well known across the Tyne Valley as a member of Northumberland Young Farmers for almost a decade, and also represented England at the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships.

Although she spent much of her life in the Tyne Valley, in recent years she lived in Penrith with her partner, John and their young daughter, Francesca.