A FAMILY recipe has helped MP's wife Jill Liddell-Grainger win a top award for her home-made marmalade.

Jill, who juggles a full-time job as her husband Ian's secretary with running her own jam and chutney business, won silver in the World's Original Marmalade Awards and Festival in Cumbria.

In the artisan section of the competition, billed as the Oscars of the marmalade world, her medium cut tangy Seville orange preserve won the praise of judges.

It won "good" comments for its appearance and aroma, while its taste was described as "nice".

It was the first competition Jill had entered since setting up Jill's Natural Preserves about six years ago.

And it was a recipe passed down from her grandmother to her mother and then to her which proved to be such a winning formula.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said Jill, who was among more than 1,700 marmalade makers - professional and amateur - who sent in jars to be judged.

"I started making marmalade as a teenager and the recipe for this particular one was used by my granny and my mum.

"It's a real thrill to have got this recognition."

The awards were founded in 2006 by Jane Hasell-McCosh with the idea of preserving, growing and widening the most English of customs.

They are held at Dalemain Mansion, a Georgian stately home which has been in Jane's family for the past 300 years and which happens to hold a rich archive of marmalade recipes.

Jill also scooped 'commended' for her Somerset cider brandy marmalade and dark tangy Seville marmalade.

But Ian, who has represented the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency for the Tories since 2001, failed to be placed with his entry in the peers and politicians' section.

Jill, who has a stall at London's Borough Market on alternate weekends and makes all her preserves in the family kitchen in West Somerset, said: "I think these awards are a great way to help bring back the tradition of eating marmalade.

"I shall definitely be entering next year and going for gold."

Photo: Steve Guscott