A pub has won a top award for the quality of its beer for the fourth year in a row.

The Ship Inn in Middlestone Village, near Spennymoor, has won the Campaign for Real Ale's Wear Valley Pub of the Year Award for 2004. The pub has been run by Graham and Liz Snaith for four years and boasts six hand-pull real ales.

Mrs Snaith said: "We get people coming from quite a distance to try the beer. The real ale drinkers will travel for a good beer which is something people won't do for a pint of lager. We're delighted to have won and really proud."