CENTRAL?Devon MP Mel Stride visited Okehampton last week — but not before stopping off at Eastcott Vineyard for a drop of wine . . .

Mr Stride took a tour of the facilities at the vineyard near Northlew. The visit came shortly after the conclusion of the vineyard's celebration of English Wine Week.

Hilary Waller, who runs the business with husband Richard, said: 'It was a very nice afternoon, despite the rain.

'We showed Mel around the winery, and when we could get outside between the showers we showed him around the vines.

'He tasted all our wines, and even bought some bottles to take home. He asked us about the industry and our business, and took away a few things from our chat.'

Mr Stride's day concluded with a question and answer session at the Ockment Centre, organised by the Devon Heartlands Community Forum and U3A Okehampton. He discussed his first year in Parliament and took questions from local residents on a range of subjects.