COOPERS at a family-owned brewery are keeping with the festive tradition by producing mini casks in time for Christmas.

T&R Theakston Ltd’s brewery, based in Masham, are filling 'pins' with world-renowned Theakston’s Old Peculiar ale to be sold over the festive period.

Craft cooper Jonathan Manby and his apprentice Euan Findlay have spent the last few weeks making traditional wooden pins.

Each pin holds 36 pints, and are made by hand using seasoned oak, iron hoops and flames.

Simon Theakston, T&R Theakston Ltd executive director, said: “For many real ale lovers our Christmas pins are a festive tradition as important as roast turkey, Christmas pudding and mince pies.

“For the last few weeks, Jonathan and Euan have been spending every day in the cooperage making our Christmas pins the traditional way.

“In the next week, these pins will be filled with our Old Peculiar, ready for the customers who have ordered them.

“There is always plenty of pin-terest in our Christmas pins, and this year is no exception.”

For more information about Theaskton’s Christmas pins, call 01765 680 000.