THE brave gamble that Richard and Jane Arnold took when they started a country restaurant in south Shropshire has paid off for the second year in a row.

They have just learned that their Crown Country Inn at Munslow has held on to the title it won in 2002 of Restaurant of the Year in the Deliciously Shropshire Food & Drink awards scheme.

Richard and Jane took over in August 2001 as Shropshire was recovering from the trauma of foot and mouth.

"It's not a business for the feint hearted but to win once is great and to win twice is fantastic," Richard said.

Competition in the good food stakes is tough around Ludlow.

"We like to use local producers so what we serve depends on what it there at a particular time," he explained.

The Arnolds received their award last week from Shaun Hill, of Ludlow's Merchant House, who said: "The high quality of entries gave the judges an incredibly difficult task."

Four other south Shropshire eateries shared in the awards. Ray and Sarah Hall's White House at Affcot, near Church Stretton, was commended in the restaurant category. Denis and Debbie Harding's Plough Inn at Wistanstow was highly commended as Pub of the Year.

Berry's, run by Lynwen Goff in Church Stretton, was highly commended as Tea Room/Coffee Shop of the Year. The Hoopits at Greete, run by Sue and Ray Amos, was joint winner for Breakfast of the Year.

The award scheme in run by Shropshire County Council.