Dear Editor

I wanted to thank the hundreds of your readers who joined our campaign to protect a small but significant tax exemption for Herefordshire small cider producers. Cider makers say that this benefit is the difference between trading and going out of business. They are the custodians of ancient orchards, boost rural tourism and use traditional methods which must not be lost.

Many readers have told me that these farm gate and artisan producers and their small industry is worth protecting and I am pleased to report that real progress has been made with the EU Commission.

Daniel Dalton MEP