LESS than a year since Holywell Spring Water first poured off the production line, it is hitting the supermarket shelves at Waitrose.

The father-and-son bottling company, based in Malvern Wells, has signed an exclusive deal with the retailer, making it the only major supermarket chain to stock its still and sparkling waters.

As of May, Holywell Spring Water will be sold at Waitrose in Great Malvern, Droitwich and Cheltenham.

Rhys Humm, of Holywell Spring Water, said: "We felt the natural sourcing of our water would sit well with Waitrose customers, so I called the manager at Waitrose in Great Malvern, Scott Whittaker, to arrange a meeting.

"The process of becoming a Waitrose supplier was very thorough, as expected. The source, production and method of bottling were rigorously tested."

Mr Whittaker said: “The minute I saw the bottles and listened to Rhys’s story and the history surrounding Holywell Spring Water, I knew we needed to stock it.”