STAFF at Samlesbury Brewery have been packed off on a well earned holiday as recognition for performing beyond the call of duty.

Four workers were picked out of 180 employees after being labelled as star performers at an awards night dubbed the 'Employee Oscars.'

A rewards and recognition committee picks staff who have played key roles in developing the brewery, which produces leading brands such as Stella Artois and bottles of Boddingtons bitter.

Richard Jenner, general manager, said: "We firmly believe in recognising and rewarding staff for their effort. Everyone has an important role and we are tremendously proud of the whole team at Samlesbury -- so it wasn't easy choosing the winners.

"However, "They put an outstanding amount of time and effort into their role, which has resulted in impressive cost savings across the site."