A VILLAGE pub which has become "a mecca for cider drinkers" has been named top of the pips.

Herefordshire CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ales) has crowned the Green Dragon Inn at Bishops Frome as its cider pub of the year.

The award comes less than two months after the venue was named a finalist in CAMRA’s Herefordshire Pub of the Year competition.

Adam Durrant, a licensee along with Zoe Dickinson, said: "It's a privilege to be able to support so many local cider-makers.

"To be in the middle of cider-making country, and to win this award, means a lot to us.”

The pub was commended by CAMRA because of the increased prominence it has given to real cider and perry.

When the licensees took over the Green Dragon in May 2013 it sold just one variety but now there is a choice of six.

Two of them, Henney’s and Abrahall’s, don't have far to travel as they are produced in Bishops Frome itself.

“It’s a big well done to the Green Dragon," Mark Haslam from Herefordshire CAMRA.

"A lot of people might not realise the pub has become such a mecca for cider and perry drinkers, probably because the ciders are normally stowed away in a fridge behind the bar and therefore aren’t always obvious.

"Perhaps this award will highlight to more locals and also alert visitors as to what is on offer – the very best of Herefordshire."

The pub now goes forward to the next level of the competition where, if successful, it could ultimately be crowned national cider pub of the year.

Earlier this year, Herefordshire CAMRA announced the Beer in Hand pub on Eign Road, Whitecross as its pub of the year for 2014.

Runner-up and voted best country pub of the year was the Bridge Inn at Kentchurch.

Other finalists were the Green Dragon Inn in Bishops Frome, the Barrels in Hereford, and the Cross Keys at Withington.