BURNLEY-brewed Black Cat ale is simply purr-fect.

The mild brewed by Moorhouse's is the cream of ales, having been voted best beer in Britain by a panel of brewers, beer writers and journalists at the Great British Beer festival in Olympia, London.

Black Cat is described in the 2000 Good Beer Guide as: "Smooth and dark with a fruity aroma. Chocolate and coffee flavours complement the bitter roast character" and was voted cream of the crop from 330 real ales produced by 150 British brewers.

Speaking from Olympia today, general manager Malcolm MacDonald, said: "Black Cat was awarded the bronze medal two years ago as third best beer in Britain, but this is just brilliant.

"We have sent a lorry up to London today with extra supplies for the festival and I understand that at the office the telephone has never stopped ringing with people ordering extra supplies."

The company, based in Moorhouse Street, off Accrington Road, produces 30 barrels of Black Cat a week with outlets all over the country and with the bottled version being exported.

"I would expect sales to increase on a regular basis," said Mr MacDonald.

The mild was first produced 10 years ago and sold purely as a draught until 1997, when Moorhouse's got an order from Canada for the beer to be bottled.

The bottled variety was entered into the 1998 Brewing Industry International Awards in London, the brewer's equivalent of the Oscars and chosen as the champion dark beer.