BURNLEY brewer Moorhouse's is raising a glass after one of its beers was voted the best cask ale in the world.

The Champion Cask Conditioned Ale accolade was awarded to Moorhouse's Pride of Pendle at the Brewing Industry International Awards held at London's Guild Hall on Tuesday.

Its Premier Bitter also won a gold medal in the lower strength class of the cask ale category.

The awards are considered to be the Oscars of the brewing industry because their brewery peers from around the world choose the winners.

David Grant, general manager, said: "This is terrific for Moorhouse's and a first in the industry as these awards mean we are now the only brewer in the world, to our knowledge, that has achieved this tremendous recognition for each of its mainstream beers."

Over the past ten years Moorhouse's famous Black Cat Ale and the celebrated Pendle Witches Brew have both taken medals at the awards. Black Cat was a double gold medal winner in 1998 while Pendle Witches Brew took a silver medal in 1996.

Moorhouse's, which was founded in 1865 as a brewer of hop bitters, draws on the legend of Lancashire's Pendle Witches for the branding of its regular ales and many of its seasonal specials.