Several senior members of the West Suffolk Wheelers and Triathlon Club, based in Bury St Edmunds, cycled to Wheldons Fruit Farm, Newton Leys near Sudbury recently, to present Sophie Wheldon and her team with their coveted Tea Room of the Year Award.

Club Members visit up to 20 different tea rooms and cafés in East Anglia in the course of clocking up many thousands of miles each year, and this award is the subject of great debate amongst its more discerning members, as they sample the fayre on offer in the area.

The 2013 award was based on the consistently, good range of fresh, homemade cakes and scones, quality tea and coffee, a light welcoming indoor seating area, large, pleasant outside seating area with umbrellas, clean toilets, friendly staff, and value for money.

The Wheldon family fruit farm was established in 1933 and is well known in the Sudbury area. Three generations currently work on the farm and in 2006 they also started growing vegetables; a farm shop was established in 2009 and the tea room followed in 2011 and has become a firm favourite amongst the cycling fraternity.

The farm encourages a variety of wildlife, - birds and mammals feed on windfall fruit, whilst honey and bumble bees are vital to pollination on the farm.

The Wheelers welcome new cyclists looking for social rides through the week; details can be found on their website www.westsuffolkwheelers.co.uk

The photograph shows Sophie Wheldon, (centre) with the certificate, members of her team, and visiting Wheelers.