KENT'S Shepherd Neame brewery has received royal recognition for being Britain's "greenest" brewery.

Chief executive Jonathan Neame accepted a Queen's Award for Sustainable Development from the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Allan Willett.

Shepherd Neame, Britain's oldest brewery founded in 1698, was one of only seven businesses in Britain to receive the accolade this year.

Mr Neame said: "The award is testament to the collective dedication of all our people striving to operate at the highest levels of excellence, environmentally and socially."

Initiatives which helped the Faversham-based brewery and its 370 pubs to win included measures to cut energy and water consumption, reduce traffic pollution and noise and a "local food for local people" scheme.

Mr Willett said the award was the result of dedication and effort that could only be achieved by the entire workforce pulling together.

He presented a scroll signed by the Queen and an inscribed vase to Mr Neame at the Shepherd Neame visitor centre in Faversham.

Mr Neame said he hoped the brewery's customers would share the sense of pride felt by the company.