One of Cumbria’s most high-profile micro breweries has bid to get on the shelves of one of Britain’s largest supermarkets.

Hesket Newmarket Brewery, based in the village of the same name, represented the county at a special event run by Morrisons which gave the company the chance to pitch its products.

The supermarket giant last month announced it was looking for local suppliers after market research found that customers wanted to see more food and drink for sale made and produced from their own communities.

More than 100 producers applied to take part in the regional programme. The only other Cumbrian representative at the event was Mawson’s Original Drinks, a soft drinks manufacturer based in Staveley, and its sister company Friendly Food and Drink, which produces chutneys and preserves.

Nathan Gregory, head brewer at Hesket Newmarket, attended the event in Grimsargh village hall in Lancashire with manager Mike Sheehan.

Their product was tasted by members of the public, Morrisons staff and members of the local WI, who gave scores on the products.

Mr Gregory said: “It was very much about selling yourself as well as a product, if you have a bit of a crack with someone they are more likely to rate you.”

He was also taken into a separate room to talk with buyers from the supermarket, where they discussed the practicalities of supplying stores.

The suppliers who Morrisons think can supply its stores will be invited to a final round of pitching at its head office in Bradford.

Mr Gregory said: “It would be a coup for us to get on the shelves. Ever since this brewery was set up we have said that we wouldn’t sell to supermarkets.”

If successful, the brewery would supply to stores close to its base and it would have some choice in how far it travelled.

He added that it had just started supplying a range of beers to the seven Cumbrian outlets of upmarket chain Booths.

The brewery was set up in 1988 as one of Cumbria’s first micro-breweries. It has been cooperatively owned since 1999.