TWO Herefordshire family businesses are celebrating after winning silver and bronze medals at the Reading Beer and Cider Festival.

Father and son team Tom and Paul Stephens, makers of Newton Court perry, took silver at the festival with their medium perry while Gwatkins of Abbey Dore were awarded bronze for their Malvern Hills perry.

Newton Court, who were national bronze champion for their cider in 2005, use a blend of perry pears from chemical free trees which are all sourced in Herefordshire. Paul Stephens said: "It's very satisfying that the quality of our perry has been recognised with this national award."

Gwatkins of Abbey Dore started producing cider and perry commercially in 1991 and in 2004 they scooped gold in the perry category for their Blakeney Red.

Denis Gwatkins said: "We made quite a lot of perry last year as the orchards cropped well and we are delighted that the quality has shone through. This is great, thanks to everyone for their support."

Meanwhile, 36 cider and perry makers came bearing 107 entries to Putley Village Hall for the Big Apple and Cider Trials. The trials, judged by the makers themselves, are an annual event and makers place a high value on the prizes which have been judged by their peers.

Herefordshire cider and perrymakers saw off the outside competition, winning the overall championships for both cider and perry, but visitors gave them a run for their money in two classes.

Mike Henney, of Henney's Cider Company, was the overall champion for draught cider, being placed in all three draught cider classes. James Marsden, of Gregg's Pit Cider and Perry, was overall champion for draught perry, including a first place in draught dry perry; James also won the draught dry cider and the bottled fermented perry classes.

However, first prize for medium dry draught cider was won on her first attempt by Rose Grant of Cider by Rosie from Dorset. And the medium/sweet draught perry class was won by Seidr Dai.

Ross-on-Wye Cider and Perry took first place with their draught sweet cider and Oliver's Cider and Perry won the bottle fermented/conditioned cider class. The novice class was won by Tony Jones from Fownhope.