Red Tractor announces the nation’s youngest Sunday Lunch Hero!

After weeks of searching the nation for a Sunday lunch hero, Red Tractor is pleased to announce the winner - nine year-old Freya Thackray from Bradford.

Red Tractor had thousands of entries to the competition which was an integral part of the ’Sunday Lunch Heroes’ campaign, encouraging people to get together and support great quality Red Tractor food for a traditional Sunday lunch.

Freya, nominated by her mum, Julie, was chosen as the winner because she supports her busy mum and dad in the kitchen and loves to cook Sunday lunch for friends and family. Freya also helps with the weekly shop by looking out for the Red Tractor logo on food and drink.

The prize for Freya, Julie and family is a delicious Red Tractor Sunday lunch cooked for them in the comfort of their own home by ITV chef, Dean Edwards. Dean first shot to fame as a finalist on Master Chef in 2006, he has starred regularly on ’This Morning’ and is now resident chef on ITV’s ’Lorraine’.

Julie, 50, from Bradford, said:

"I’m delighted to have won this competition for our daughter Freya who is a huge help in the kitchen. Freya absolutely loves Sunday lunch, and I feel she really embodies what Red Tractor were looking for in their Sunday lunch hero – an assertive little girl who really cares about where her food comes from.

"Freya loves to shop for her ingredients, and always makes a point of picking products with the Red Tractor logo on it, she knows this means the food has been produced to good standards. We’re hugely excited to have Dean Edwards visit and can’t wait for our delicious Red Tractor Sunday lunch with all the trimmings!"

David Clarke, CEO of Red Tractor Assurance, said:

"We wanted to revive this Great British occasion by launching the Red Tractor ’Sunday Lunch Heroes’ campaign. We had an overwhelming response and looking through the entries it is clear that many people are committed to quality food with a guarantee of origin. And what’s more reassuring is that children as young as eight are aware of where their food comes from."

The Red Tractor logo is a mark of quality assurance that shows that food or drink products meet high standards of food safety, environmental protection and animal welfare. The Union Flag featured in the logo also highlights a guarantee of origin.