A FAMILY butchers has been deemed ‘outstanding’ as it continues to serve the public more than 100 years on.

Cranstons, which has a shop in Hexham as well as across Cumbria, was the biggest winner at this year’s Cumbria Life Food and Drink Awards, scooping the coveted outstanding contribution to Cumbrian food and drink prize.

The firm’s current owners, brothers Philip and Roger Cranston, received the award from BBC broadcaster Nigel Barden and were praised for their business which employs nearly 190 people.

Cranstons was founded by Stanley Cranston in Kirkoswald in 1914, and has gone from strength-to-strength as it has remained in the hands of the family ever since.

Stanley’s nephew James and his wife Bunty took the helm in the 1950s and delivered to customers, and it was at this time that their sons, Philp and Roger, first helped out the family business.

Cranstons opened its first shop in Kirkoswald in 1977 and, after Philip and Roger officially joined the firm in the 1980s, an expansion followed with shops in Penrith, Carlisle, Brampton and Hexham.

Cranstons managing director, Philip, said: “It’s about the people, and it’s about the food.

“We like what we do and therefore hopefully we do it well. Cumbria’s a great place to trade, to do business, to work with producers.

“ It’s just a big thanks to our staff - and our wives.”