A TV chef has appeared at the Great Yorkshire Show to sing the praises of great Yorkshire grub.

BBC star Sophie Grigson is working to have traditional breeds reintroduced back into the countryside and is a keen advocate of local food.

"This project is about getting older breeds back into an area which has been spoiled by the over-farming of sheep, so now we want to get back to mixed farming with traditional breeds.

"This works in everybody's favour.

"It's better for the environment, which is looked after in a much more natural way, and it's better for the farmers.

"And, where I come in, it's better for the consumers, who get a great meal at the end of it."

She said there had been a great surge of interest in these projects in recent years, as people began to realise there was great produce on their doorstep.

"The consumer has really, really high quality meat right here. I am very keen to encourage people to eat local food."

And she supported the Evening Press Eat Local

campaign for raising the profile of local food.

"It is really good that the campaign has been welcomed by the readers. I think people are definitely becoming more aware of the great food we can produce, which is great."

Updated: 08:41 Thursday, July 10, 2003