An artisan bakery in west Suffolk was described as a "rising" star after being named the best in the country. 

The Friendly Loaf is a bakery based near Bury St Edmunds that specialises in slow-proved breads, sourdough and patisserie treats. 

The Nowton business has been named the best artisan bakery in England at the Food Awards 2023 at a ceremony in Birmingham on Monday night. 

According to the Food Awards 2023, the winners were selected based on the votes of the public, who nominated their favourite establishments across various categories, including restaurant of the year, fine dining restaurant of the year, artisan bakery of the year and best street food. 

Previous winners for the region include Amigos in Bury St Edmunds, which was named the best Mexican restaurant in 2022. 

The Friendly Loaf was the only establishment in Suffolk to win an award this year. 

The bakery is open from Tuesday to Saturday in the village south of Bury St Edmunds and is a regular feature at the town's Saturday market.