A COUNTRY pub has been voted the best in the district by real ale enthusiasts for the second year running.

The Bell at Pensax carried off the prestigious title awarded by the Kidderminster sub-branch of the Campaign for Real Ale. Bell landlord John Greaves celebrates another real ale accolade.

CAMRA members described the Snead Common pub as a "comfortable, welcoming hostelry renowned for the quality and range of its real ales."

The free house, which has been run by John and Trudy Greaves for the past two-and-a-half years, features half a dozen or so cask ales each week and Mr Greaves estimated he has served up to 386 different brands since he took over.

"We try to feature local brews as much as we can like Hobsons of Cleobury Mortimer, Cannon Royal from Ombersley and Enville ales but I also scour the country for some of the more unusual beers.

"The highlight of our year is our annual festival at the end of June when this year we will offer up to 40 cask ales over the three days," he said.

Kidderminster sub-branch chairman Gill Morriss said: "The Bell is a gem of a pub and is one of a type of traditional rural pubs that is fast disappearing from our landscape.

"We all like to know that pubs like this still exist but we need to make the effort to visit them if they are to survive."