ONE of the region's breweries won a silver award for a bottled beer in a national contest.

Castle Eden Brewery, near Hartlepool, won the award for the Castle Eden Challenge beer at the International Beer and Cider Competition, in London.

The beer, which has a hint of orange taste and has an ABV of 5.5 per cent, won first prize in a Tesco stores competition.

Head brewer Steve Wilson said: "We have only recently begun bottling beers here, despite being the oldest brewery in the North-East, so to win a silver medal in such a competitive class is something of which we are very proud."