Virgin Balloon Flights has helped raise the profile of rural affairs by teaming up with NFU Countryside at the BBC Good Food Show 2006.

VBF gave a top prize for a free draw organised by NFU Countryside during the event at Birmingham’s NEC in November.

More than 1500 ‘foodies’ took time out from demonstrations by the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver to enter, and David Clarke, Chief Executive of the Assured Food Standards Agency, drew the winners.

Mr Ken Gorley, from Cumbria, was the lucky winner of two Diamond Flight Vouchers worth £540. Meanwhile, Mrs M Worman, from Shropshire, won a Daylesford Organic Christmas larder hamper and Mr Andrew Apperly, from Worcestershire, won a Daylesford Organic salmon and champagne hamper.

NFU Countryside joined forces with NFU at the event to promote the importance of sourcing locally produced, seasonal British food and to encourage the consumer to support British farmers and growers.

Staff were on hand to talk to visitors about the NFU’s latest campaign “Why Farming Matters” and the benefits of joining an organisation that actively supports the rural community.

A spokesperson said: “NFU Countryside would like to thank everybody that took part in the prize draw and Virgin Balloon Flights and Daylesford Organic for their very kind donations of three such quality prizes.”