MEAT from rare breeds reared in East Lancs is served in fine dining restaurants and on cruise ships and is now available locally to buy.

Five years ago Tim Vines, son Josh and daughter-in-law Kayley decided to try their hand at farming having had a handful of cattle on their 15 acres in Helmshore.

Tim and his wife Debbie invested in 150 acres at neighbouring Kiln Clough Farm, in Helmshore Road, which had been used for rearing sheep.

Now it is home to 93 rare breed and native cattle including Belted Galloway, Riggit and Blue Grey, and 150-200 rare breed and native pigs including Oxford Sandy and Black, Tamworth and Middle White.

The family, which also owns the Northern Whisper craft brewery in Rossendale, has now established Larder Drop, an online resource, with a minimum of non-recyclable packaging.

Josh said: "We set up the Larder Drop for two reasons, firstly to diversify the farm’s business activities and secure our future in this time of uncertainty in the UK.

"Secondly, we had received a lot of messages through our beer festival page over the last few years from people wanting to buy our meat."