A COUNTY brewery has picked up another award, this time for its sustainable energy programme.

Wye Valley Brewery, near Bromyard, has installed solar panels which now mean they produce 57 per cent of their own electricity.

Recent development works now mean vehicle movements on site have gone down 80 per cent as cask racking, storage and loading bays are now all under one roof.

As a result, the brewery scooped the Energy Efficiency Award at the Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards.

This is the latest accolade, having already won the Water Efficiency Category at the Marches Blue Business Awards as well as the SIBA Green Business Award.

Vernon Amor, Managing Director of Wye Valley Brewery, said: "We're delighted to win this award and once again be recognised in our efforts to be a sustainable brewery.

"We are proud of our continued commitment to using renewable energy along with dramatic reductions in our carbon footprint.

"Further investments in renewable technology are in the pipeline this year whilst we continue to produce great beers for our customers.

"For beer lovers the most sustainable way to enjoy your favourite tipple is in your local pub. At Wye Valley Brewery, 70 per cent of our beer is draught cask ale delivered direct to pubs within an hour from our home in Stoke Lacy."

Other improvements at their brewery in Stoke Lacy means there is now only one cold storage area, as opposed to the previous four, with a more-efficient cooling system.

Water efficiency has also been improved, and consumption down by 50 per cent.

An investment in an innovative new heating system was a world first in the brewing industry and has significantly lowered their carbon emissions for every pint of beer brewed.