SMUGGLER Sean Bate was caught red-handed as he landed a barrel of strong ale from his boat.

Eagle-eyed landlord Austin Ball nabbed the masked villain landing his cargo at the Boatyard Inn, Hoghton.

But Sean won't be spending Christmas in Clink.

He is a Thwaites' district area manager, and his smuggling act was publicising a special brew with a festive gimmick. The "Smugglers' Grog" ale is Daniel Thwaites' December ale and its name comes as a timely reminder about the excessive excise duty on British beer.

Thwaites' managing director Paul Baker condemned beer smuggling across the English Channel.

He said: "Brewers are under threat, pubs are having to close down and jobs are being lost. Unless the Chancellor takes action now, British brewers will start closing as well." Smugglers Grog will be the official "guest" at the Brewers and Licensees Retailers' Association Christmas reception in London just after the budget.

Central Lancashire MEP Mark Hendrick will join representatives of beer drinkers from across Europe at the European Beer Consumers' Union tomorrow to discuss the tied-house system and the guest beer rule which allegedly breaks European Union competition law.

He said: "The guest beer rule is popular with consumers and has encouraged new interest in small, independent breweries."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.