People in Shropshire heading to a town pub are able to sample award-winning beer brewed just down the road for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Shropshire brewery Hanby Ales, of Wem, is celebrating after the town’s only free house The Fox Inn agreed to sell its beer.

Landlord Phil Stubbs said he was proud to fly the flag for Wem ale.

Drinkers will be able to buy a pint at the official launch on April 20 and get another Hanby ale for free throughout the day.

The Fox Inn in High Street is the only free house in Wem as all the pubs in the town are owned by either Enterprise Inns or Punch Taverns.

The Fox specialises in real ale, which is why the pub has agreed to team up with town master brewer Jack Hanby.

The pub already sells beers from Salopian Brewery in Shrewsbury, but traditional Hanby ale has not been sold in town pubs for 18 years. Mr Stubbs said: “Wem has a proud tradition of brewing with Wem Brewery and later Hanby Ales, who are creating quite a stir by winning so many awards of late.

“We are proud to fly the flag for Wem beer, with all this talk of food miles we are just one mile away from the brewery so that’s got to be good for the environment.”

Hanby Ales’s awards include the Gold Medal Champion Beer of Britain accolade for its Nutcracker tipple.

Today staff at Hanby Ales said they were delighted at the breakthrough and are keen for full support for the pub from residents.

They said they hoped it could soon become the “Brewery Tap” and provide their full range of ales for the people of Wem and the surrounding area.