David Warburton, MP for Frome, has added his support to a campaign to call on HM Treasury to freeze or lower duties on small vineyards.

David's Somerton and Frome constituency includes Avalon Vineyard near East Pennard, Barebones Vineyard and Smith and Evans Somerset Wine, both near Langport, Durslade Vineyard, Trendle Farm Vineyard and Hents Hill Vineyard, all in Bruton, and Wraxall Vineyard near Shepton Mallet.

Wine duty has risen by 39 per cent since 2010 and the UK pays 68 per cent of all wine duties across Europe and 43 per cent of sparkling wine duties.

Launching the British Small Vineyard Relief campaign, Kevin Hollinrake MP wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary of Treasury, the Right Honourable Rishi Sunak MP, calling for the reduction or elimination of duties on small vineyards, to offer them a substantial fiscal boost.

David Warburton MP has added his signature to the letter, in support of the many small vineyards in his Somerset constituency.

He said: "I have long been campaigning for tax relief for small cider producers and microbreweries, and I'm pleased to say that since the introduction of Small Breweries' Relief, a huge number of microbreweries and cider producers have benefited.

"The enormous variety of ales and beers in pubs and bars across the country is testament to the changes made at a fiscal level.

"I believe that now is the right time to show our support for British vineyards by extending relief to vignerons and vintners so that they can similarly benefit from the boost which has helped Somerset's cider and beer producers."