TASTY TREATS from across Lancashire were on offer at a special event aimed at encouraging customers to buy local.

Ewes' milk ice cream, home-made jam and hand-reared pork sausages - all from East Lancashire - were among the products on display.

Michelin-starred chef Nigel Haworth, who owns Northcote Manor hotel, Langho, also demonstrated how to use local products to create succulent dishes.

The Buy Local 2008 event, held at Ewood Park, Blackburn, was attended by more than 100 people from the restaurant, hotel and catering industries who wanted to sample the best of what the county has to offer.

Carole Johnson, of Farmer's Wife home made preserves, Burnley, set up her home-run business and now makes around 120 jars per day using fruit from her own garden.

She said: "Because I make my jam at home, I know exactly what goes into it and so do my customers."

Lisa Reedy, of marmalades and chutneys producer Reedy's Naturally, Oswaldtwistle, added: "Locally-made products have much more flavour than mass-produced items bought in supermarkets that contain God knows what.

"It also cuts down on food miles if you buy locally."

Mrs Dowson's ice creams, based in Clayton-le-Dale, make more than 35 flavours using milk from their own dairy. Worker Diana Scott said: "Out kitchen table is our office. It's a family experience.

"Local producers can concentrate on quality rather than quantity."

Angie Beary, of Ribble Valley Meat Company, which rears its own pigs outside Ribchester, said: "Even our pig food is produced locally, so we have complete traceability as to what goes into the sausages."

Bob Robinson, of Uncle Bob's Ice Cream, Chipping, has 12 cows but also uses sheep's milk to make his products.

He said: "If you buy local, you support local businesses, keep farmers on farms and keep the countryside looking the way it should."

David Entwistle, of Lancashire Sauce, Ramsbottom, added: "What's the point of buying lettuce from Spain if you can get it from Lancashire and keep local traders in business?"

The event was supported by North West Fine Foods and the Lancashire Tourist Board, and was funded by Made in Lancashire.

Mel Smith, of Made in Lancashire, said: "Lancashire has a massive variety of locally-produced food that is of a really high quality.

"There has been a groundswell for locally-produced food, and when you consider that you don't have to travel far to get it, it also has a good effect on the environment."