Aston Manor Cider have scooped another award for innovation in cider production.

The cider-maker was recognised last night at the West Midland’s Business Masters Awards for the great strides made in reducing water consumption at its Stourport-on-Severn processing facility.

Competition was fierce with Aston Manor shortlisted alongside other prominent businesses in the region.

The win marks a return to the awards, where the business has achieved success in previous years, winning Best Manufacturer (Large) in 2015.

The West Midland’s Business Masters Awards, run by thebusinessdesk.com, celebrates excellence in all aspects of business life as well as enterprise and entrepreneurship.

With up to 250 tonnes of apples passing through the facility each day during the harvest period, a significant energy input is required to cool the process of concentrating the fresh juice pressed from the apples.

Introduced in time for the 2016 harvest, a new water recycling process was developed using the riverside location itself. In what is a first, the innovative technology diverts river water flowing past the site to condense vapours from the concentration process.

The new approach has reduced fresh water consumption by 33%. Over 1 million litres of condensate produced during the harvest will be reused for apple movements around the site – a much more efficient use of water.

Gordon Johncox, managing director of Aston Manor Cider, said: "We are delighted with further recognition for our commitment to invest in world-class facilities is delivering considerable improvements in environmental performance.

"We have great teams in place right across our business and a clear focus on how we can continue to improve in all areas of operation. It is great to see the progress we are making."

Aston Manor Cider has previously won the Drinks Business Green Awards’ Water Management for the innovative system at Stourport-on-Severn with all three production sites receiving the highest possible accreditation for excellence in food and drink production.