Ledbury's MP, Bill Wiggin has been was honoured with a unique ‘Beer Champion’ award in Parliament.

Mr Wiggin, MP for North Herefordshire who champions Britain’s beer industry received the award in Parliament last week.

He was presented with a certificate and souvenir pump clip by the British Beer and Pub Association and SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers.

Bill Wiggin MP said: “Many jobs and lives in North Herefordshire are dependent on brewing, cider and pubs.

"While Herefordshire is well known for its cider production, my constituency also boasts 11 breweries. Beer and pubs support 1,503 vital jobs in North Herefordshire, and adds £51.1 million to the local economy. "

He added: "For two years in a row the Government has cut beer duty and I hope the Chancellor will listen to our call again and cut duty for a third time in the next budget. I will continue to press the Government to help our beer industry, our pubs and our breweries in North Herefordshire.”

In particular, the award highlights Mr Wiggin’s support in securing historic consecutive cuts in beer duty in the 2013 and 2014 budgets.

Mike Benner, Managing Director of SIBA, said: “We are enormously grateful to the MPs whose support for British beer over recent years has created a far more optimistic outlook for our industry. As a result of the consecutive beer duty cuts, our members feel more confident about the future of British brewing and are investing in their business and creating local employment, with an estimated 1,600 new jobs in SIBA breweries last year.

"With at least one independent brewery now operating in almost every parliamentary constituency, the Beer Champions announced today will I’m sure be invited to celebrate their success in their home town, with a pint of great, locally brewed beer.”