The boss of a leading beer manufacturer has accused the government of turning its back on the brewing industry in its latest Budget.
Chancellor George Osborne announced last month that beer duty is to rise by two per cent above the rate of inflation.
Moorhouse's Brewery managing director David Grant says the move could be "ruinous" for the sector, putting local jobs in danger, the Burnley Express reports.
Mr Grant also revealed that he had appealed personally to deputy prime minister Nick Clegg about capping duty rises, but he appears to have been ignored.
"We were able to tell deputy prime minister Nick Clegg about our sector's problems when he visited the brewery … but even that meeting appears not to have helped the industry," he told the publication.
The British Beer and Pub Association recently described the extra levy on beer as another "stealth tax" imposed by the government, calling for ministers to be more honest with industry.
Despite the duty rise, Moorhouse's is still pushing ahead with a £4.2 million expansion.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the brewing industry includes:
Conveyors – screw conveyors – chain conveyors – belt conveyors
