A RUGBY club is celebrating opening Northumberland's first Golden Hooves vending machines.

Tynedale Rugby Club is stepping ahead of local rivals, boasting the first Golden Hooves vending machines in its Corbridge clubhouse.

Golden Hooves is a vending business offering milk and dairy foods produced by farmers following regenerative principles.

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Farm manager Mark Housby is one of those farmers. His 480 cows at Peepy Farm near Bywell supply milk used to make Golden Hooves products.

He said: "We are excited to be bringing Golden Hooves to Northumberland. These products are made from the best quality milk produced by cows grazing pastures just a few miles from Corbridge. The name Golden Hooves comes from the action of the cows’ hooves helping to nourish the soil and protect the land while creating the best food."

Golden Hooves cheese, milk and other fresh products are available 24 hours a day from the club's vending machines. On show at this coming weekend’s fixture against local rivals Blaydon, the vending machines come as a welcome addition to the club’s facilities at the height of the rugby season.

Golden Hooves is backed by a co-operative of dairy farmers committed to protecting nature, looking after their cows and offering the best food for local communities to buy directly from the people producing it.

Robert Craig is a farmer director of the co-operative and set up the dairy business at Peepy Farm.

He commented: “Golden Hooves farmers are committed to making wholesome foods which are as good for the planet as they are for us.”