A brewery, which operates pubs in one of the worst areas of the country for pub closures, is backing the national Axe the Beer Tax---Save the Pub campaign.

Batham's Brewery, based in Brierley Hill, operates 10 pubs in the West Midlands, most of them in and around the Dudley area, recently identified in a survey as suffering more pub closures than any other part of the region.

Batham's Estates Director Matt Batham said: "Many local pubs are under threat. Eight pubs a week are closing in the Midlands and the future of this great British tradition is being threatened by higher taxes at a time when consumers are having to tighten their belts and local businesses are facing tough times.

In the picture Mr Batham pulls a pint at the Lamp Tavern in Dudley with barmaid Kelly Flavell.