RYEDALE MP Kevin Hollinrake raised a glass to the future success of a local beer company during a recent visit.

Mr Hollinrake visited the Malton-based Horsetown Beer Company, which recently won the Ryedale Business Award for the best start up business.

The Horsetown Beer Company began trading in July last year and is owned by Howard Kinder, who also works in a local racing yard. The company supplies bottles, kegs and casks to local retailers and pubs.

Drinks are named after the horse-racing history of both Malton and Middleham and the business supports Racing Welfare, giving five pence per bottle and pint to the charity.

The company supplies bottles, kegs and casks to local retailers and pubs and has just added a fifth Malton beer called the Musley Bank Classic Ale.

Howard said: “I have worked in horse racing since February 2015 and after spotting what I thought could be an opportunity, I started the business last year. I still work six days a week for Richard Fahey. I’m up at 6.30am every morning and I work to 12.30pm, go home and shower up. Then I’m off selling the beers around North Yorkshire. I am excited about the launch of the second range of beers and look forward to promoting these and supporting Racing Welfare.”

Dawn Goodfellow, Racing Welfare chief executive, said: “We are thrilled to have this generous support from Horsetown Beers. It is great to see the history of both Malton and Middleham being celebrated and we look forward to future beers celebrating the history of racing around the UK too.”