MORE than 400 people turned up to toast a Prestwood brewery as they hosted their official opening on Saturday.

Malt the Brewery has been making a range of ales for the last six months at their base off Wycombe Road but held a day of celebrations to mark their early success at the weekend.

Rides on a traction engine and music from the Wick Trimmers folk group kept the crowds entertained but it was the food and drink that was the main attraction.

Nick Watson, who runs the brewery along with wife Jenny, said: "The key focus was on local beer and local food. We had a barbecue run by the local butcher Nigel Stirrett, who was offering a sausge made with the Malt dark ale. He sold 250 of them.

"We didn't know how many people to expect, with it being our first ever event, but we were prepared for a busy day. We saw the weather forecast and thought that would finish it off but it didn't. People walked in with umbrellas and wellies."

The official ribbon cutting ceremony was performed by the village's MP, Cheryl Gillan.

Mr Watson said: "She's been very supportive to the two of us from the start. She's very pro local business and has a business and enterprise background. She's offered us some very useful advice."

Business has been going well for the Watsons, who live in Naphill, with four regular ales being brewed and another four seasonal beers also being created.

Mr Watson said: "It started very gently, as we intended, and it's grown organically by word of mouth. We haven't actively advertised.

"We'd like to extend our thanks to our local customers, businesses who've been working with us and friends and family."

To find out more about the brewery go to www.maltthebrewery.co.uk or www.facebook.com/maltthebrewery.