A TRADITIONAL Oxfordshire flour mill has won a prestigious food award at a national ceremony.

Wantage's Wessex Mill – a family-run business which has been producing flour since 1895 – took top prize at a Guild of Fine Food's event in London.

The mill – now into its fifth generation of producers – won Great Taste Producer of the Year at the renowned ceremony.

Great Taste, which describes itself as ‘the world’s most coveted food awards’, celebrates the best in food and drink, and also awarded the mill with accolades for 11 products, including a trio of triple starred flours.

Fourth generation flour miller Paul Munsey collected the trophy on Sunday at the Golden Fork Dinner, where more than 350 guests from the world of fine food gathered to hear the results of months of rigorous judging.

He said: "It's a great opportunity to show people how good our products are."

Praising his team, he continued: "Most of our staff have done more than 15 years; their contribution to it has been pivotal."

The Munsey family, who previously worked out of a mill in Osney, Oxford, moved to Wantage following a fire at the old mill in 1945.

They place emphasis on sourcing their wheat locally – and last year brought in 96 per cent from within 30 miles of their facility, but the small mill also supplies a range of businesses across the continent, including two Michelin-starred restaurants in Hungary.

Mr Munsey’s daughter Emily added: “We were really surprised when we won. It was just amazing when we went up on stage.

“Its fabulous for the business."

Miss Munsey, who is training to be a fifth-generation miller at what is one of a diminishing number of traditional mills in the country, says she thinks the facility will thrive after she finishes.

She continued: “Little things change: we have got different equipment and working procedures [but] we work really hard with traditional machinery.

“This award is for success over the years – its about our range of products."

John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, added: “Wessex Mill is a great example of a family business that is going from strength to strength, while staying true to tradition and heritage.

“We’re absolutely delighted to present them with this award and hope this outstanding achievement helps cement its reputation as a leading speciality producer in the UK.”