The owner of Manchester brewer Boddingtons has been accused of hypocrisy over plans to relocate its beer production after more than 200 years.

Union leaders say Interbrew's plans contradict its shelved move to take Tennents beer out of Glasgow because it is synonymous with the city.

The Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) said Boddingtons' position in Manchester was no different to that of Tennents and Interbrew should scrap its plans.

Union leaders said Interbrew was wrong to assume "Mancunians are a soft touch".

Up to 86% of Boddingtons production is set be moved from the Strangeways area of the city, to sites in Salmesbury, Lancashire and Magor, south Wales.

Boddingtons' whole advertising and marketing is based on being a proud Mancunian

Franny Joyce, TGWU

Interbrew has confirmed that up to 68 jobs will be lost under the plans, which will be implemented over two years from February 2003.

Stewart Gilliland, chief executive of Interbrew UK and Ireland, said the company would continue to focus "on developing the Boddingtons brands as a quality Northern ale which is synonymous with Manchester."

But Franny Joyce, TGWU's north-west organiser, said: "Boddingtons is an integral element of Manchester just as much as Old Trafford is, or as the Tower is to London.

"Boddingtons' whole advertising and marketing is based on being a proud Mancunian.

Leaflets planned

"Now that Manchester cream is turning sour with hypocrisy."

TGWU, the UK's largest union in the brewing industry, pledged to campaign against the plans and unanimously voted for a mass leafleting session in Manchester.

The plan involves relocating production of Boddingtons draught flow beer, while the cask ale version will continue to be brewed in Manchester.

Interbrew stressed the brewery will continue to "hold a unique position in our business".