Two Oxfordshire beers have been judged to be among the best in the world by a panel of professional brewers.

Wychwood Brewery's strong stout, Black Wych, took a gold medal and Hook Norton Brewery's Best Bitter a silver at the Brewing Industry International Awards 2002, held in London's Guildhall.

Wychwood Brewery won the top prize in the International Dark, Milds, Stouts and Porter category.

Managing director Ian Rogers said: "We're delighted and now we plan to launch the beer in supermarkets. Winning this prize will help us do that."

The company produces 500 barrels of Black Wych each year. It is sold in the Witney brewery's 30 pubs.

Hook Norton Best Bitter took silver in the International Cask Conditioned Beer category of the prestigious bi-annual awards, the third time the ale has been honoured at the event. In 1998 the same brew won the gold medal and in 1996 it took another silver.

The beer is brewed in the family-owned brewery in Hook Norton, where dray horses are still used for deliveries to nearby pubs, and sold in the company's 42 pubs and as a guest beer in free houses.

The competition, established in 1886, is now organised by Brewing Technology Services, the holding company of the Institute and Guild of Brewing, The Brewing, Food, and Beverage, Industry Suppliers Association and Pattern Ltd.