Prince Charles starts visit to Cumbria at brewery

Prince Charles visited Staveley at the start of his day-long tour of Cumbria

The Prince of Wales started a day-long tour of Cumbria by pulling a pint of beer at Staveley near Kendal.

During the visit to Hawkshead Brewery in the village he tried Windermere Pale beer and remarked it was "hoppy" and "tasty".

Prince Charles also unveiled a plaque to commemorate the firm's 10th anniversary.

His schedule included engagements in Grasmere, Dalemain near Penrith, and Wigton in north Cumbria.

Brewery owners Alex and Anne Brodie set up their business in 2002 and now employ 19 full-time staff.

Mr Brodie said: "We are one of the new wave of independent brewers who have led the way in getting the public interested in proper beer.

"Our head brewer is only 32-years-old. It's no longer an old man's game."

Patrick Moore showed the Prince of Wales around his bakery business, More?

Prince Charles also chatted with other business owners and toured an artisan bakery called More? run by local couple Patrick and Louise Moore.

Speaking of the tour, Mr Moore said: "It was an absolute pleasure to share our passion with him. He was very knowledgeable.

"What he saw was a real bread bakery producing real bread for real people.

"I think he was impressed with our sample of Lakeland treacle bread with walnuts and raisins."

Mr Moore's seven-year-old daughter, Milly, presented the prince with a basket of loaves and cakes.

Prince Charles went on to Wigton as part of the north Cumbrian town's 750th anniversary of its market charter.