A COUPLE are overjoyed after the pub they own was singled out from dozens of others and named best in the area.

The King's Arms, in Hawcoat, Barrow, has been declared the Furness Campaign for Real Ale Pub of the Year 2017.

This is the first time in more than 30 years a Barrow pub has been given this award.

One of the owners, Diane Hogan, 61, said: "I was speechless. We had a Camra meeting here and we thought we'd won pub of the season, but pub of the year? I thought 'it couldn't be us, it couldn't be us', I was just absolutely speechless, I actually cried."

Mr Hogan added they were "delighted with the accolade."

Since taking over the pub in 2012, Mrs Hogan and her husband Steve, 65, have always tried to champion local brewers, and give their customers something new whenever they come into the pub.

Mrs Hogan said: "Looking all along the bar we've got beers from Ulverston, Flookburgh, Skipton and Kirkby. At the same time we bring in a lot of variety; last week we had a Welsh beer in. We've tried to keep it local but to give people a taste of something new."

Dave Stubbins, Furness Camra chairman, said the pub was a worthy winner, saying: "It is a testament to the hard work that Steve and Diane Hogan have put in to the pub since they acquired it in 2012. It certainly has all the feel and community focus of a village pub."

Mr and Mrs Hogan, who have run pubs for more than three decades, said it was a great place to own and work in.

She said: "It's a lovely pub to run, there are really nice people who come."

Upon hearing the news of their award, one of the Hogan's regulars took it upon themselves to mark the occasion.

Mrs Hogan said: "One of our regulars was so made up with it he came in the next day with a home-made sign."

Related story: Read about this year's successful Dalton Beer Festival

To find out more about CAMRA, and the other award-winning pubs in the area visit their website.

Read how a former journalist became one of the top brewers in the county