TOP Japanese rural development experts were due to visit a county pub today to learn about its role in countryside regeneration.

The nine-strong delegation chose The Talbot, at Knightwick, after hearing about its monthly farmers' markets, award-winning Teme Valley Brewery and locally-sourced menu for guests and take-away customers.

The visit is to form part of the Japanese group's seven-day tour of best practice in British rural regeneration.

Enterprises as far afield as Inverness will be targeted.

Group leader, Professor Shinji Aoki, of the Toyo University in Tokyo, is to work with Bernard Lane of Bristol University's Rural Tourism Unit during the week-long visit.

The pair are due to meet The Talbot's owners, the Clift family, head brewer Chris Gooch, and head gardener Jenny Mundy.

"We chose the Talbot because it shows three things that the Japanese are very interested in," said Mr Lane.

"It's coping with regeneration in the countryside in an enterprising way, and it's run by women which is quite rare in Japan.

"They're also very interested in using locally-produced goods as a lot of food is imported and the level of self-sufficiency in Japan had dropped."

The delegation was also scheduled to look at rural tourism management issues in the Malvern Hills and Suckley areas.

"It's very exciting, and lovely to have been chosen out of the countryside to represent rural industry at its best," said Wiz Clift, who runs the pub with her sister Annie.

"We've been here for so long and gradually, on the grapevine, people get to hear about this funny place in the middle of Worcestershire which is run by two weird sisters.

"Bernard Lane came to look at the place and what we do here, and then owned up to who he was and asked if he could bring the Japanese delegation here."

The pair have been perfecting their 18th Century style of inn keeping - including gathering dandelions for salads, nettles for soup and elderflowers for champagne - for 17 years.