CHATSWORTH estate has been awarded a lifetime achievement award for services to tourism.

A new award was created just for the stately home at this year's Countryside Alliance Awards.

The house and its staff won the award in recognition of Chatsworth's role in sparking the local food movement, as well as furthering rural tourism and contributing to the local community.

The prize was given to the team, including the Duke of Devonshire and the Dowager Duchess, at a ceremony held at the House of Lords.

Countryside Alliance Board Member Lord Gardiner of Kimble read the citation. He said: "This is the first Lifetime Achievement Award we have been moved to present in the awards' six-year history. It is a huge privilege to reward the hundreds of people involved in the Chatsworth Estate."

"The Chatsworth Estate, which is a beautiful place in a beautiful setting, was an unlikely location for the start of a revolution but a food and tourism revolution began here in the 70s and Britain has not looked back."