JUDGING a Beer Festival is one of the perks that go with being MP for Ludlow.

Philip Dunne MP was on hand to help judge some of the best regional craft ales in Ludlow Castle as part of SIBA’s Wales & West Independent Beer Awards 2016.

SIBA (the Society of Independent Brewers) beer judging took place ahead of the Ludlow Spring Festival.

“The Ludlow Constituency has a well-deserved reputation for our local beers, as well as excellence in food and drink, and Ludlow’s Spring Festival this weekend will show off some of the best we have to offer,” said Philip Dunne.

“The UK’s food and drink industry is now our largest manufacturing industry, bigger than cars and aerospace combined, and it is good news for South Shropshire that the Government is championing further growth by backing the Great British Food campaign, to promote British food and drink at home and abroad and support businesses looking to export.

“Our established reputation will put South Shropshire in an excellent position to deliver export driven growth, creating further jobs in this important sector of our local economy.

“Indeed, two food businesses from the Ludlow Constituency have just received Queen’s Awards for Enterprise due to their thriving export markets. This shows the potential growth exporting can deliver to food and drink businesses here.”