The closure would put 55 people out of work

Staff are protesting at owner Interbrew's plans to move production from Strangeways, with the loss of a total of 55 jobs.

The industrial action, which is part of a series of strikes, started at 0600 GMT on Monday.

The workers also plan to get "brand protection" for the beer, making a move from its home city difficult.

If an application to the EU is successful, it will use the slogans "Cream of Manchester" and "Bees of industry of Manchester" to link the brand with the city.

Interbrew is planning to keep its cask ale production in Manchester after the closure - moving it to Hydes Brewery in Moss Side - but the main production work will move to Lancashire, Scotland and Wales.

The brewery was acquired by Interbrew as part of its takeover of Whitbread's brewing operations in May 2000.

Boddingtons has been brewed in Manchester for the past 224 years.