### Major Cheese Heist: £300,000 Worth of Cheddar Stolen in London

In a surprising twist, more than £300,000 worth of cheddar was stolen from Neal's Yard Dairy, a well-known cheese specialist located in Southwark, London. The theft involved 950 clothbound cheeses, amounting to over 22 tonnes, which were taken by fraudsters masquerading as legitimate wholesalers.

Neal's Yard Dairy, renowned for its quality cheeses, fell victim to a highly organized scam. The stolen cheese varieties were not ordinary; they included award-winning cheddars such as Hafod Welsh, Westcombe, and Pitchfork. These artisan cheeses are prized for their quality, with Hafod Welsh being sold at £12.90 for 300g, Westcombe at £7.15 for 250g, and Pitchfork at £11 for 250g.

Despite the substantial financial loss, Neal's Yard has assured that it will cover the producers' costs to ensure that the individual dairies who supplied the cheese do not suffer the financial burden. Patrick Holden, the owner of the farm where Hafod cheddar is created, emphasized the strong trust that pervades the artisan cheese community. He credited Neal's Yard Dairy's founders for fostering this ethos of trust within the industry.

Tom Calver from Westcombe Dairy highlighted the extensive labor and commitment required to produce such high-quality cheese. He noted that the process began almost three years ago with planting seeds for animal feed, followed by meticulous care for the cows and the careful transformation of milk into cheese.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are investigating the audacious theft, described as "the theft of a large quantity of cheese." The investigation continues as the artisan cheese community reels from this significant setback.