EMPLOYEES of Whitbread's at Samlesbury were toasting the success of one of their beers today as it went to number two in the latest "Top 100" of the nation's favourite take-home tipples.

The Samlesbury plant is one of two Whitbread breweries in Britain brewing Stella Artois lager - the other being Magor in Wales.

Sales of Stella in shops and off-licences went up by 27 per cent last year, taking the beer from number five up to number two, behind Bells whisky.

Whitbread claims that if Stella sales continue to grow at the same rate it is on course to oust Bells next year - which is currently ahead by £18 million worth of sales a year.

The company intends to boost summer sales of the lager still further through a £25 million "Summer of Stella" package of TV and cinema advertising.

This will include sponsorship of segments on Channel 4 and Channel 5, a national promotion with video chain Blockbuster and other promotions.

Whitbread's marketing manager Tracy Darwen said: "We are confident that with this extra support Stella will soon become the number one drinks brand in the UK."

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