I COLLECT ashtrays and beer mats from long deceased breweries.

I have over 520 and my aim is to collect one from each brewery which existed.

I recently visited Preston, but I had no luck in tracing a mat or ashtray of either W and R Wilkins Ltd (acquired 1952) or Breakell and Co Ltd (acquired 1947).

I visited a few pubs and shops but to no avail.

Is there a reader who knows of the existence of either of these breweries, so that I can judge whether my quest is sensible or not? If you do could you please contact me at the address below.

Geoffrey Hammond, The Pilgrims' School, The Close, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9LT.

Tel: 01962 866967