A BRADFORD firm has begun making natural fruit based tonic waters in addition to its successful small batch hand-crafted gins.

Haworth Steam Brewery branched out into making flavoured gins around 18 months ago, and more recently the company has added six flavoured botanical tonics under the Gascoigne's label.

The tonics are made and bottled at the firm's site in Cleckheaton, next to the Rose and Crown pub, and have proved so popular that they are to be sold through Keelham Farm shops in a new deal.

Owner Andy Gascoigne said: "We are the only producers of natural fruit based tonics in Yorkshire and these products have been specifically created to compliment our small batch hand crafted gins.

"Since their launch six months ago they have proved very popular with local retailers to the point that we have invested in specific bottling and labelling equipment.

"We use only natural ingredients from pressed fruits, sourced from British growers, with no artificial colouring or sweeteners and use recyclable glass bottles."

So far the firm has created flavours including grapefruit and orange, pomegranate, lemon twist, marmalade, cucumber and red gooseberry, and Mr Gascoigne has plans for more.

One of the flavours - grapefruit and orange tonic - is also shortlisted for the Deliciouslyorkshire Taste Awards in the best beverage category, and the winners will be announced in November.

The tonics add to the two gin ranges from the brewery, which are Haworth and Miss Mollies, the latter of which includes sweet shop flavours, such as parma violet, pear drop and sherbet lemon.

Mr Gascoigne added: "I already knew a lot about carbonation, but we wanted to use natural ingredients, such as pressed fruit. My family became the testers for our tonics and I'm always working on new flavours. This time its raspberry and lime, and chocolate orange."

He added that the Keelham Farm shop deal includes offering the six flavours in 200ml mixer bottles, with the ability for customers to buy a pick-and-mix four pack, selecting their favourite flavours.

"All our stuff is absolutely packed with flavour. If it says cucumber, it is cucumber, not just there in the background. We are all so passionate about tonics now."

He added that the firm's expanded operations mean they are looking for new premises to bring the brewery, gin distillery and tonic water production all under one roof.

The move to making tonic waters in Cleckheaton comes some 100 years after George Fentiman was approached by a fellow tradesmen for a loan, which led to him botanically brewing ginger beer in the town in 1905.