Houghton resident Matthew Kelly is the owner and founder of The Filling Station, in St, Ives and has been named as our fourth Environmental Champion to recognise his efforts to ensure beer drinking is more sustainable.

Located at the Abbey Retail Park, in St Ives, within a 40ft converted shipping container, The Filling Station houses two beer dispense taps that serve batches of 10 craft beers and ciders into refillable glass bottles minimising beer packaging waste.

The Filling Station dispenses craft beers from UK breweries, which are changed every few days, meaning customers have chosen from more than 400 different craft beers since the shop's launch in May last year.

Matthew, who worked at the beer brewer Carlsberg before opening The Filling Station, said: "People have really bought into it. The fact we’re supporting local breweries and local businesses is really important, and people love that.

"They love the whole refill angle of it and the theatre that’s involved when you come back and refill your beer container.

"We’re really kind of showcasing the phenomenal heritage that UK brewing has.”

The refillable glass bottles used are one and two litre US style beer growlers that you buy when you first come in and can then reuse.

The dispense innovation at the Filling Station means once the beer is sealed in the glass bottles, it will remain fresh for up to 30 days if it remains unopened.

Matthew said: "These bottles also deliver up to 66 times less C02 emissions per container than aluminium cans, and the process uses significantly less water when compared to the cleaning and sale of multiple packs of cans and bottles from supermarkets.

"Overall, it’s a much more sustainable (and fun) way to buy and drink craft beer."

The Filling Station also offers a click-and-collect service that enables people to enjoy craft beers that they can't buy in supermarkets and pubs from the comfort of their homes.

Matthew hopes to expand the business and plans to open another beer filling station in Cambridgeshire within the next year.