Gillian van der Meer left the bright lights of the city to be a country girl.

She later married a farmer and, between milking sessions, threw herself into promoting farming.

She has now been named Farming Woman of the Year in the National Farmers' Union President's Awards.

She scooped the top prize for her work as an ambassador for the industry.

Gillian collected her £1,000 prize from NFU president Ben Gill at an awards ceremony at the Metropole Hotel in London.

The judges were impressed by Gillian's commitment to her farm and to raising the profile of British food and farming.

On the farm, she oversees the accounts, has been involved in upgrading the dairy unit and was behind the installation of computer systems to improve business management.

She travels to shows and fairs and promotes the dairy industry. She also writes educational leaflets specifically aimed at children.

Gillian said: "I was born and brought up in London but went to work in the country. I started on an organic Jersey farm in 1974 and then started an organic catering business."

In 1984, she met her husband Cor and moved to Ashburnham, near Battle, where they still farm.

Gillian said: "I joined the Women's Food and Farming Union (WFFU) in 1985 and became aware it was necessary to have people leaving the farm to go out to give talks.

"I realised the farming industry needed a huge promotion to the consumer and the Government so, with the support of my family, I turned my attention to taking on that work.

"If you come from a town background and then go back into that area, I think you perhaps have an advantage over those who come through generations of farming.

"I spend a lot of time rushing to London for meetings and talks so I'm usually glad to get back to the farm."

Gillian, 44, vice-president of the WFFU, said her role was to try to get people to appreciate the importance of food and farming by buying home-produced goods.

She said farmers generally got a bad Press, adding: "By and large, farmers work damn hard seven days a week. They produce the food that goes on our plates."