MUCH Marcle cider giant, Westons, have set up an ambitious five year plan to maintain growth; and there will be two new additions to the senior leadership team of the thriving local business.

Westons Cider has a growing clientele all over the UK, and further afield, for famous brands including Stowford Press, Old Rosie and Wyld Wood Organic.

As the business, which is based at The Bounds, Much Marcle, looks forward to further expansion, Darryl Hinksman, who is currently Head of Customer Marketing and Insight is to be become Head of Business Development.

A company spokesman said: "His additional remit will include procurement, stock control and information technology."

Hereford-based, Mr Hinksman joined Westons two years ago.

Steve Hadcroft becomes Manufacturing Manager, and hew he will be responsible "for production, quality standards and an integrated management system".

Mr Hadcroft, from Staunton-on-Wye, joined Westons at the start of this year.

Weston's managing director, Helen Thomas said: “ I am delighted to welcome both Darryl and Steve to our leadership team and I’m sure both will make a huge contribution to our ambitious growth targets whereby we aim to be producing and selling more than 60 million litres of locally produced cider by 2022.”

Westons is still very much a family concern, with a history stretching back to Victorian times.

The company has been making cider in the same location since 1880 and Mrs Thomas is a fourth generation member of the Weston family.

Westons has its own fruit orchards, where each New Year a traditional wassailing ceremony takes place, to ensure a good harvest for the autumn.

The business also sources apples locally from growers in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, and Monmouthshire.