BEER and cider drinkers attending a popular event in Hereford this weekend are being asked to support a campaign to back local producers.

Campaign group, CAMRA, is to lobby MPs in a fight against an edict from the European Union that, if implemented by the UK Government, would see the current Excise Duty Exemption enjoyed by the county’s many small cider and perry producers removed.

CAMRA is asking people attending this weekend’s Beer on the Wye festival to sign a petition on the festival’s Cider Bar which calls for the government to act decisively to save local cider makers.

Mark Haslam, from Herefordshire CAMRA, said: "If this exemption is lost, the additional tax burden and extra bureaucracy that local producers will face will see many of Herefordshire’s small cider and perry producers quit and disappear forever. "This would be a tragedy. Not only would it be a disaster for consumer choice, at a time when more and more people are waking up to the pleasures of local produce, but it will see the character and landscape of Herefordshire change forever. Gone will be centuries-old orchards and cider mills as would various rare apple and pear varieties."

He said there will be around 135 different ciders and perries at Beer on the Wye this weekend with more than 100 of them from Herefordshire alone, and all from small local producers.

"If we don’t collectively fight to save them, then we can’t hope to have half that number of ciders at the festival next year. I implore people to sign the petition," he added.

Beer on the Wye runs from Friday July 10 to July 12 at the city’s Rowing Club. For more information, visit herefordcamra.org.uk