A NORTH Yorkshire brewer is celebrating after taking a major award.

Nightmare Ale by Hambleton Ales of Melmerby, near Thirsk, won a gold medal in the Northern Beer Competition organised by the Society of Independent Brewers.

Now, out of the 200 beers that entered, Nightmare is one of just nine going through to SIBA’s National Beer Competition next month.

Hambleton Ales managing director Nick Stafford said: "We’re delighted that judges at the Northern Competition have voted for Nightmare and hope that it also scores highly at the national event next month."