A HUSBAND and wife brewing team celebrated their second anniversary in the business with another award.

One of Nick and Jenny Watson's creations at Malt the Brewery in Prestwood was awarded gold in the regional finals of the Society of Independent Brewers award.

It's the second prize that their Dark Ale has picked up, having also impressed the judges at the Good Taste Awards.

The Watsons only set up their business in Wycombe Road in the village two years ago but they're already proving a hit with drinkers throughout the district.

And they're now getting recognition for their ales from further afield, with Malt the Brewery making it through to the national finals of the SIBA award.

But they might never have thought about setting the business up until fate intervened.

Mrs Watson - who recently gave up work as a marketing director to work full time with her head brewer husband - said: "We went on a skiing holiday and both had accidents - I broke my leg and Nick tore his ligaments. It gave us the time to sit on the sofa and talk about this business plan.

"We never really had chance to stop and think what we wanted to do. Whilst it was a difficult time, from a fate point of view - and I do believe in fate - it was a good thing to happen.

"We believe there's a great trend for local produce - people want to see where it came from.

"We're not interested in selling wholesalers who will send it all over the country, we're keeping it to a ten-15 mile radius of Prestwood at the moment."

The couple were last week invited to the Houses of Parliament by Prestwood's MP Cheryl Gillan - who officially opened the brewery - to an event to celebrate the best food and drink Bucks has to offer.

A bar has also been set up at the brewery, which is proving a hit with villagers.

Mrs Watson said: "It's become a place for people to come and drink with friends. It's a complete byproduct and something we never expected. The people of Prestwood seem to have taken us to their hearts."