The new-wave rock star has become a regular at the new tearoom and shop since it opened for business in March this year.

Echo and the Bunnymen have a massive worldwide following and recently announced a 30th anniversary concert at the Liverpool Echo Arena in November.

They are currently in the middle of a world tour with dates in Japan, Brazil and the Netherlands, including a sell-out gig at the Royal Albert Hall.

But the legendary guitarist took time out from touring the globe to officially open the business – which is just a few miles from his Scarisbrick home.

The Farm Burscough is quickly becoming renowned across Lancashire for its fresh award winning produce and home cooked meals.

Mother and daughter team, Freda Neale and Cathy Grice, make and prepare the food for the tea room and shop which also sells produce from the farm, homemade chutneys and preserves, local cheese, meat and bread.

Will Sergeant has been a regular customer over the years paying for his free-range eggs in an honesty box in a small outhouse at the Martin Lane farm. But now the business has grown he is delighted to continue that support.

He said: “I was really pleased to officially open The Farm Burscough. I have been coming for years and like to support local businesses.

“Their free range eggs and other produce are fantastic and the family have managed to keep that quality homemade style in their new business.

“I have seen how much hard work has gone into restoring the barn and they have done a fantastic job. I feel like I have seen the whole thing develop so it was really good to be part of their official opening.”

The Neales have been farming on Martin Lane for generations have developed the large farm shop, tea room and Bed and Breakfast in a newly renovated 18th Century brick-barn.

Freda said: “When we started this we never thought we would have a global music star to officially open the business! But Will was the ideal person to ask because of his passion for quality produce and supporting local trade.

“He has been very supportive of, what has been, a life-changing project for us and encouraged us throughout. We are all thrilled that he was able to fit in the time in his hectic tour schedule to come and open our business.

Cathy added: “We had the official opening to thank everyone who has helped us develop the business. More and more people are now coming to see us and it is very encouraging that so many are returning and becoming regular customers.

“There is a real enthusiasm for quality local produce, whether it is served in the tearoom or bought in the shop to take home.

“People are certainly realising the benefits of eating good local produce so we are very grateful to Will for helping us spread the word.”

The news was announced on the same day the Neale family opened a new tea room and farm shop at their family farm on Martin Lane.

Almost 200 producers from across the North West gathered at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Accrington, on Thursday, March 13, to compete in what have become the most prestigious food awards in the region.

From breweries to bread makers, cheeses to chutneys and delis to dairies, almost every sector of the of the region’s food industry was represented at the awards.

The North West Fine Food Awards have been running for the last six years and are judged by an expert panel of 24 judges including leading regional chefs and national food writers.

Alongside picking up the best producer in the county, Bill and Freda Neale also collected the award for Best Fruit, Vegetable or Herb for The Farm, Burscough, with their Lady Christl potato.

Just that morning the family had opened their new business to the public with a stylish tea room and large farm shop in a newly renovated 18th Century brick-barn. The building, on Martin Lane, also houses three bed and breakfast rooms.

The Neales have been farming in Burscough for generations and are well known for participating in Farmers’ Markets across the region.

Freda Neale said: “It has been an incredible week for us as we opened the tea room and shop for the first time on Thursday morning and then by the evening we had been named best producer in Lancashire!

“We are absolutely thrilled because there is a lot of hard work involved in getting our produce just right.

“We have won category awards in the past for the quality of our vegetables, jams and chutneys but never an overall best producer. It has been a fantastic boost and will hopefully be a good omen for our new challenge.”

Daughter, Cathy, added: “It has been a lot of hard work to develop the tea room, B&B and shop, particularly with two small children to look after – so it is great to see the business open.

“We sold our house to invest in this project so I am delighted that we can serve, what is, officially best produce in Lancashire to our customers!”

The Neales from Burscough have just been named in the North West Fine Food Awards after scooping the regional Best Brassica and Best Vegetable categories.

The family will be taking part in the first ever Ormskirk Farmers’ Market this Friday, November 9.

With their fragrant fennel and delicious Romanesco Cauliflower the Neales convinced a select panel of judges and will now go on to complete in the finals next February – where they could be named as overall Best Producer.

The North West Fine Food Awards have been running for the last five years and are hotly contested, attracting hundreds of entries each year. They are judged by an expert panel of 24 judges including leading North West chefs, national food writers and guest judges.

The Neales have been farming on Martin Lane for generations and are currently in the process of developing a large farm shop, tea room and Bed and Breakfast in a newly renovated 18th Century brick-barn.

Known as “The Farm Burscough” the new attraction is another step in the family’s diversification process which has seen them develop from purely wholesale farmers into one of the best know producers selling direct to the public at farmers’ markets across the region.

Bill Neale said: “It is great news to win another award for our produce. Having turned from wholesale to retail over the last few years we have built up some wonderful customers and also been able to concentrate on growing a bigger variety of crops in smaller numbers.

“That has meant the quality of our crops has got better and we are able to offer top quality produce at the farmers’ markets and from our farm door.

Daughter, Cathy Grice, added: “We will be opening our new shop soon so more people will be able to come and try our award winning products for themselves.

“We have had a small self-service shop at the farm for a few years but when our barn renovation has been completed we will be stocking a much bigger selection of veg, chutneys, free range eggs, meat, bread, jams and preserves.

“Our new tea room will also use produce from the farm in the meals we serve and our free-range eggs will also be a favourite feature of our country breakfasts.”

The award comes as another boost for the Burscough family who made international news last Christmas with their secret cooking method for “wind-free sprouts.”

They have also triumphed before in the North West Fine Foods Awards after achieving the Best Lemon Curd in the region earlier this year and also two separate awards for their potatoes in both 2006 and 2007.