Richmond ale and North Yorkshire beef have been brought together in the latest in a range of ready meals.

Felicity Davy, co-owner of Pridham's delicatessen, in the town's Finkle Street, and Keith Thomas, co-founder of the Darwin Brewery, came up with the recipe.

Richmond ale is brewed traditionally at the Sunderland brewery using yeast cultured after analysis of samples found at Richmond Castle and barley from North Yorkshire farms.

When Mr Thomas saw the beef in ale casserole on sale at Pridham's, he approached Mrs Davy and her son, Jay, who farm in Swaledale, to suggest using his firm's brew in the frozen meals.

The delicatessen opened in 2002 and now fills ready meal orders from as far afield as Huddersfield and London.

Mr Thomas, who lived in Richmond for several years, said: "We are keen that our historic beers are readily available in their original locale. Pridham's is putting a traditional local product to excellent use in its casseroles."

Products from the Darwin Brewery and Pridham's can be sampled at the festival of food and drink in Leyburn this weekend.

Our picture shows Keith Thomas, of the Darwin brewery, and Felicity Davy, of Pridham's delicatessen, toasting the winning combination of Richmond ale and local beef.