A Bishop's Frome farmer has said the sale of one of Herefordshire's biggest hop farms is a setback for the British hop industry.

Carlsberg Tetley has sold Brierly Court Farm, near Leominster, to a strawberry grower because it is no longer commercially viable for the company to grow its own hops.

John Pudge, who grows 50 acres of hops at Bishop's Frome and owns the Hop Pocket craft centre, said it was sad that a major English hop farm was going to disappear.

"Each time we lose a hop farm, however big, it's a nail in the coffin for the industry," he said.

"When we lose such a large enterprise as Brierly Court Farm it doesn't help the industry at all."

Mr Pudge said he was worried that the chemicals he uses to control pests and diseases on his hops would not be available if the industry kept getting smaller.

He added that he hoped brewers Carlsberg Tetley would still buy English hops.

"In the past brewers themselves have wanted to use traditional hops but often their accountants tell them that the strength of the pound means it is cheaper to buy from Europe," he said.

Asked why English hops made the best beer, Mr Pudge said it was because of they have a distinctive flavour and aroma.