Licensee to tap into his cellar's spring

An enterprising licensee hopes to sell a new range of bottled water after discovering a spring in his cellar.

The 13th-century cellar at the Ship Hotel in Allonby, Cumbria, became flooded during storms earlier this month.

When host Steve Ward and his wife Valerie went to investigate, they found the water was clean and clear ­ and a customer who tried it said it was "delicious".

Steve said: "I had a taste as well and apart from it being a bit chalky, it was very nice.

"I want to find out if this is pure spring water and what qualities it has. If we can bottle it and sell it that would be great. It would be a real boost for the village.

"It could be that the water table has risen because of all the recent rain, but it tastes as though it has been filtered through rock," he said.

Steve said he hopes to have the water tested by a geologist.

Fire fighters were called to pump the water out of the cellar but they can't stop the room filling up. As a result, the kitchen has been closed temporarily.