AM PRAISES LOCAL RETAILERS

NATIONAL Assembly Member for Monmouth, Nick Ramsay, has today welcomed news that Dingestow Post Office and Village Stores, Kingstone Brewery in Tintern and N S James Family Butchers in Raglan are in contention for the Welsh retail categories of the Countryside Alliance Awards.

The Welsh winners will be announced next January during a reception at the National Assembly for Wales, before going on to compete against winners from Scotland, Northern Ireland and the English regions in the United Kingdom final.

Speaking earlier, local AM Nick passed on his congratulations and wished the contenders the very best of luck: "It is fantastic that three local businesses have been singled out as potential Welsh champions at this year's Countryside Alliance Awards.

"These Awards recognise and celebrate rural individuals and businesses who are ambassadors for both local produce and the communities to which they are central.

"It is safe to say that Dingestow Post Office, Kingstone Brewery and N S James Family Butchers are not only renowned in their communities, but right across Monmouthshire and beyond.

"I would like to wish all three entrants the very best of luck and I am very much looking forward to attending next January's Welsh Assembly reception at which the winners will be revealed."