A CHEPSTOW cook has struck gold by winning a top award at the world’s biggest marmalade festival.

Angharad Underwood, who runs The Preservation Society from her home in Bulwark, won a gold award for her Limey Lime Marmalade at The World’s Original Marmalade Awards Festival.

The event was held in Dalemain in Cumbria last weekend.

She said: “It is absolutely amazing because you know the people who are judging it know what they are talking about.” The Preservation Society’s Limey Lime and Seville Orange marmalades were entered at the festival last year and both were commended.

But this year, she decided to only put the lime marmalade forward and went one better in the Any Citrus Marmalade category.

The production process starts with her having limes delivered to her home from a Newport-based supplier, and she makes a batch of about 80 jars every time.

The Limey Lime marmalade is made by leaving sugar and limes to cook for about two hours.

The marmalade is then left for six to eight weeks.

And the mum of two, who changed careers two years ago after working as a transport manager, said: “It gives you a real kick.”

The jars will now feature a sticker informing buyers that it has been commended by the competition.