The Old Station in Tintern has been awarded a coveted Gold True Taste Award, naming them the best tea rooms in Wales.

Awarded by True Taste of Wales, a Welsh Assembly project, the cafe won the Best Tea Room category and was presented with its award at the Royal Welsh Show last week.

The nominations for the award this year for the first time were made by the public, with the top three choices visited by a mystery shopper and the final decision made by a panel of judges.

The building is owned by Monmouthshire County Council, and run by Lesley Sterry (pictured). She said "I had no idea we were going to win, or that we were even going to be shortlisted.

"Because we were voted for by the people, it means so much. We survive from the support of our lovely customers and build up relationships with our regulars.

"Being seasonal, we wait for them to come back in the new year and count them all back in after the winter."

There were five categories to choose from in the awards, with 350 businesses nominated.

The tea rooms' unusual Lavender Cake, a vintage recipe inspired by their Victorian theme, featured positively in the mystery shoppers report four weeks ago.

For more on this story, and the other successful businesses, see this week's Beacon (1st August).