Farmers from across the eastern counties landed many of the leading awards at a special industry event at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.The overall supreme title went to Hertfordshire farmer Robert Law, who also won the arable farmer of the year award for his hard work and eye for detail.

Farmers from across the eastern counties landed many of the leading awards at a special industry event at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

The overall supreme title went to Hertfordshire farmer Robert Law, who also won the arable farmer of the year award for his hard work and eye for detail.

He was described by one of the judges, Charles Abel, who is the Farmers Weekly group technical editor, as "a truly determined farmer who combines a thriving business with a passion for the countryside and promoting farming to the public,"

The Farmers Weekly Agricultural Awards 2006 were presented by BBC television presenter Fiona Bruce before more than 500 of the farming industry's leaders.

Two new awards were also presented including the National Farmers' Union's champion of the year, which went to Hertfordshire farmer Ian Piggott, of Harpenden.

"Ian is exactly the type of agriculture entrepreneur this industry should celebrate," said Peter Kendall, NFU president, who added that was "a man dedicated to agriculture with a passion for communication and the determination to reach out beyond his own local community to make a real difference to the way thousands, perhaps millions of people think about UK farming."

Other winners on the night included 30-year-old James Peck of Scotland Farm in Dry Drayton, Cambridge, who won the Young Farmer of the Year award. Heather Gorringe, of Herefordshire company Wiggly Wigglers, won the award for alternative enterprise of the year.

A leading Norfolk farmer, Paul Rackham, of Manor Farm, Bridgham, near Thetford, who rears more than 5,000 beef cattle a year, was the runner-up in the beef producer of the year.