DARTMOOR Brewery's unique beer the Three Hares struck gold last week, when it was voted the best speciality beer in Great Britain at the SIBA National Beer Competition held in Sheffield.

The beer is flavoured with heather honey from the moors, which gives it a delicious rich spicy fruit taste.

A spokesman for Dartmoor Brewery said they were delighted with the gold award — although the beer was in rather short supply at the moment.

'Unfortunately with last year's bad summer there is a lack of pure heather honey so this beer is having to be rationed to special occasions.'

The spokesman said Mike Lunney, Dartmoor Brewery's head brewer had issued a double plea —one for a warm sunny summer and another to all Dartmoor beekeepers.

'We are desperate for more heather honey,' said the spokesman.