Herefordshire’s top cider and perry-makers took a bow at this year's Beer on the Wye festival.

The city festival, organised by Herefordshire Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) from yesterday until Sunday, is featuring nine live bands, hot and cold food, and camping in a fabulous riverside location near the rowing club.

National Camra cider and perry making champions Roger Pinnell, of Mayfayre Cider, Upper Dormington, and Lewis Scott of Cleeve Orchard Perry, Ross-on-Wye, were receiving their awards on stage at the festival.

Meanwhile, the festival honoured its own winners.

The top cider was Browns Apple Sweet Kingston Black and Sweet Coppin Cider by Gregg's Pit Cider and Perry, of Much Marcle.

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Ty Gwyn Cider took silver for its Dabbinet Festival Ferret Cider, while Skyborry Cider and Perry took the bronze medal.

The top perry award went to Oliver's Cider and Perry's Keeved Perry. Milled by Tom Oliver, it is the latest in a string of high-profile awards for the Ocle Pychard producer.

Runner-up was Gwatkin Cider's Farmhouse Perry (of Abbey Dore), with the bronze medal going to last year’s winner Barker’s Victorian Orchard Perry (of Worcester).

Keeping the champions company at the family-friendly festival were more than 130 other ciders and perries, mostly from small Herefordshire producers.

Mark Haslam, of Herefordshire Camra, said: "These awards mean that Britain's best cider and perry now indisputably comes from Herefordshire.”

Whirly Bird from Bath's Electric Bear Brewery was named Champion Beer of the Festival.

The unfined 5.2 per cent strength beer was described as a zingy little pale ale, hopped with Chinook and Vic’s secret.

The silver medal went to Cloudwater Brewery of Manchester for its unusually-named 4.6 per cent brew John Green Bouffant.

The bronze prize went to another Manchester outfit, after Wander Beyond Brewery was commended for its Great Rift, a 6 per cent strength beer.

A beer from Ledbury Real Ales was named Herefordshire Beer of the Year.

Wai-iti and Citra is a 5 per cent strength, early-hopped golden ale that uses local hops from Ashperton, along with the Wai-iti variety from New Zealand. It is a collaboration with Jonny Bright of the Hereford Beer House.

The festival also launched new Camra initiative called Press2Pub.

Featuring a guide to all Herefordshire pubs offering local cider and perry, it aims to increase the number of county pubs selling locally sourced drinks.

Visit the Beer on the Wye website for more information.