They are among four north east businesses to have won regional titles in the fifth annual Countryside Alliance Awards.
Belsay Post Office and Shop picked up the Village Shop/Post Office Award.
Head judge Steve Clark said: "With so many post offices faced with closure or changing status to an outreach shop, Belsay has gone just that extra mile to make its mark.
"The shop sells a huge array of local produce wherever possible – stocking most items anyone could want from any shop, let alone a small village store.
"While not a long way from the outskirts of Newcastle, the shop provides everything the locals want, including a delivery service which has proved vital for the old and housebound during the recent cold snap.
"Together the shop and the community fought to preserve the post office, which along with the shop forms the hub of village life."
The Rural Enterprise Award wenrt to The Country Barn at Widdrington Village.
Mr Clark said: "Born out of the depths of the tragedy of foot and mouth disease, this fantastic rural enterprise has a dedication to customers, attention to detail, and a mission to please which makes it stand out far from any other businesses.
"A family effort, they work every hour possible to make the business such a success – one evening the partners closed the shop, stripped and sanded the floor and re-varnished it, and had the place ready to open again the following morning.
"They turned down a well known celebrity patron in favour of a young man called Ali Johnson who had always helped out on the farm during lambing. Ali was sadly left paralysed when a rugby scrum collapsed and died four years later. The layout of the shop and tea-room are a tribute to him and his determination – enterprise with a mast passionate touch."
These two businesses, together with two more from Piercebridge in Durham and Norham-on-Tweed, go forward to the final in which they will be up against fellow regional winners in a bid for the British title.
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