Sidmouth Conservative Club is celebrating success after being bestowed with the ‘honour’ of coveted CAMRA accreditation.

Representatives from the Campaign for Real Ale called in recently to deliver the news.

Club steward Jackie Phillips said: “All the staff were very excited – it’s an honour. It is nice to think you have achieved that quality of beer. I hope people will see this and realise that our beers are good and come and see what we’ve got.”

And the landmark achievement also held special meaning for Jackie, who had worked towards this aim for more than two years alongside her late husband Eric, who died in January.

Jackie said he would have been proud that the club had finally achieved recognition for its special offering of ales.

“I’m so happy for Eric,” she added. “I call it his trophy, not mine really. We always worked as a team.”