A GOURMET food store is holding a fortnight-long celebration of great cheese from Yorkshire and beyond.

Lewis & Cooper in Northallerton is featuring tastings on almost 20 top cheeses from the region until Sunday, July 27.

Visitors will be able to try notable and unusual varieties include award-winning Little Black Bomber Cheddar and the limited edition Char Coal, a mature Cheddar blended with charcoal, but there are also more familiar favourites, such as Yorkshire Blue made at Shepherds Purse near Thirsk, Feta, parmesan, Goudas and traditional Wensleydale from Hawes.

The store's Franco-Italian manager Fabrice Marcotullio said: “We stock more than 300 cheeses from all over the world, so selecting some for the festival was difficult – they are all stars. I’m confident though that we have some superb varieties for people to come and try.”

The firm’s wine experts will also be on hand to give advice on matching wines to the cheese.

As part of the festival, special dishes will be served in the upstairs tearooms and lounge.