The firm claims it is not sustainable to keep the brewery open

Union leaders met the parent company Interbrew on Tuesday to plan ways of keeping its brewery open.

But they claim Interbrew did not take the meeting seriously forcing workers to take this action.

Interbrew has urged workers to return to work to allow "properly constituted" consultations to resume.

The villains in this piece are not the workforce it is the company chasing ever increasing profits Franny Joyce, T&G

Transport and General Workers Union regional official Franny Joyce said the walkout was not part of the union's strategy but he could understand the workers' anger.

"Although what has happened may not be legal it doesn't necessarily mean it isn't right.

"The villains in this piece are not the workforce it is the company chasing ever increasing profits."

An Interbrew spokesman claimed the walkout was not unanimous and believed it was against union advice.

"We have taken the consultation very seriously and we believe that the official meeting with the union officials was well received," he said.

The closure would put more than 50 people out work

Discussions were organised after the owners decided last week to shut the famous Strangeways brewery.

The site is set to shut in 2005, with the loss of 55 jobs, because bosses said it will reduce distribution costs.

Interbrew plans to brew cask ale in Manchester switching it's production to Hyde Brewery, Moss Side.

However most production will move to Lancashire, Scotland and Wales.