A WIVELISCOMBE farm business has been given a hi-tech business boost.

The Wood familyhave expanded internet shopping from their farm at Upton in the foothills of Exmoor, thanks to a Government grant.

They have reared sheep on their farm for more than three decades and started selling online a couple of years ago.

But a grant from the Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs' Rural Enterprise Scheme has helped the family make their website more user friendly and accessible to a wider market.

And the grant has allowed them to purchase mailing lists giving them a database of 1,000 regular customers and potential to sell to a further 3,500 people.

Arrangements with other farmers mean that high quality beef, pork, poultry and game are being bought in by the family to sell via the world wide web.

The run up to Christmas saw bumper business as the Woods sold 250 turkeys and 600 boxes of lamb.

"In addition to selling all our own lamb, the free-range, additive-free turkeys are certainly a hit with our customers," said farmer Matt Wood.

"The enterprise has become more efficient and viable because of the extra input in developing our customer base."

DEFRA's rural development service adviser, Phil Owens praised the farm as an example of agriculture embracing modern technology to open up a new market place and help its neighbours.

"We're really pleased to see how this particular RES project has enabled a whole community of farmers to benefit from the initiative, by providing them with a profitable market for their produce," he said.

The Woods' farm produce is available online at www.somersetfarmdirect .co.uk or by calling 01398-371387.