A CRAFTER of Cumbrian cider has won a prestigious gong for his traditionally-made drinks.

John Hibbert, of Broughton Bank Perry and Cider in Cartmel, has won a Bronze medal in the International Wine and Spirits Challenge.

John, a former restaurateur in Oxford, said he planted his first vintage cider apple trees back in 2007 and began to sell his wares three years ago.

"I started out thinking I'd make it for myself and my friends - production is completely dependent on the weather in any given year," he said.

"My ciders are fermented through natural yeast with no sulphites. I try to add nothing to the finished product and every batch I make is different.

"Cumbria has a long history of cider - every farm would have a dedicated apple tree, and at hay time the workers would all drink the cider made from it.

"Perry is such a fascinating product - people generally only know it as Babycham now but perry was drunk as a substitute for wine when Britain couldn't get French wine in the Napoleonic wars.

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"The local South Lakes Orchard Group (SLOG) sent samples of this pear away for DNA analysis - it turned out not to be in the national database so we had the opportunity to name it The Middle Birkby Pear."

John only retails from his property in Cartmel, where he is happy for guests to drop in and have a tasting.

Check www.ciderman.co.uk for more details.