One of Britain's oldest lager producing breweries is to officially close, it has been announced.

North Wales's Wrexham Lager will call time in April.

Carlsberg-Tetley, which owns factory, earmarked it for closure two years ago.

But it has enjoyed four more months of production thanks to demand around the millennium.

Redundancy payments

A spokesman said after retirements and redeployments, 18 employees would be affected by the closure.

"All have been offered generous redundancy payments and outplacement support - two of these people have already secured new jobs and Carlsberg-Tetley has appointed outplacement consultancy Bankfield Newman to assist the remaining 16 individuals.

"A further 11 employees have been offered redeployment to other roles within Carlsberg-Tetley," he added.

Production of the Wrexham Lager brand was switched to the Blackburn-based Thwaites brewery in December and will continue to be available for as long as sufficient demand existed.

The company will also retain its association with Second Division Wrexham Football Club which is one year into a three-year sponsorship deal.

'Saddened'

John Smith, Carlsberg-Tetley's group operations director, said: "It is never an easy choice to close a brewery but I am glad that we have had two years to prepare for this."

Leader of Wrexham County Borough Council Councillor Neil Rogers, said he was saddened by the announcement.

"It marks the end of an era for one of Wrexham's traditional industries," he said.

"Whilst this decision is clearly most regrettable I am assured that all opportunities for alternative strategies which could retain the company and the jobs in Wrexham have been explored.

"The company is taking great steps to minimise the impact on the individuals concerned and I am assured that the Wrexham Lager brand will continue to be available as long as there is demand for it," he added.

Coun Rogers said the local authority would continue discussions with the company regarding the decommissioning of the plant and the long-term use of the site.

Carlsberg-Tetley has also closed a brewery at Alloa, in Scotland with the loss of 85 jobs and sold another at Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, to Bass.