A BREWERY boss has issued a festive call that many will have no problem in obliging.

Paul Theakston, founder and chairman of the Black Sheep Brewery, wants the public to support Britain’s pubs - by visiting their local this Christmas.

In a video posted on his Masham-based brewery’s YouTube page and website he points out that pubs generate millions for the country’s economy.

“The pub is the heart of many communities up and down the country. It is a proud tradition going back centuries,” he said.

“If every adult in the country visited a pub at least once this Christmas, it would be huge support for your local.”

Whilst urging people to drink responsibly, Mr Theakston, who founded his brewery in 1992, highlighted the benefits of pubs to the local economy.

In the video, filmed in the award-winning Wensleydale Heifer in West Witton, he said: “Pubs inject an average of £80,000 into their local economy each year.

“Almost a million UK jobs depend upon the beer and pub sector, accounting for £12 billion in wages and more than £7.2 billion in tax revenues.”

The video can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=L2zPj7EJo94 and blacksheepbrewery.com