THE OWNERS of a village pub tucked away in rural Herefordshire have started brewing their own beer.

Dean Cholmondeley and his wife, Steph, have been at the helm of the Plough Inn in Little Dewchurch, south of Hereford, for six years, saving the pub from closure.

Now the pair are venturing into brewing ales and are looking to supply other pubs, clubs and businesses, as well as bottling their beer on the premises.

Mr Cholmondeley has been making beer for the last couple of years, working with a friend who is a brewer by trade. He will enter some drink into next month's Beer on the Wye festival.

"We're entering some of the beers into Beer on the Wye and we're confident at least two will bring us at least a bronze," Mr Cholmondeley said,

"The beers we're making are a best bitter, a blonde ale, an IPA which is a nice strong beer and there will be specials.

"The first one is a dark, strong, crisp, golden ale which will be launched this Sunday at our open day."

The open day, which the landlord hopes will be a fun day for the family, will also have a barbecue and people will be able to see the process of making beer with local ingredients.

Little Dewchurch Brewing Company already have customers lined up, with three pubs and a wholesale having already placed an order.