GROWTH in export sales is being targeted by a family-run brewery after securing a £150,000 loan to invest in new brewing and bottling equipment.

Wold Top Brewery, near Driffield, received the six-figured business loan from Finance Yorkshire, with the funds set to be split between the brewery and firm's bottling operation Agricola Bottling.

Managing director Tom Mellor, who runs the Wold Top business with his wife Gill, said: "The new brewing equipment will enable us to produce almost the same amount of beer in one day as we currently do in a week.

"We will also be able to contract-brew beer for other brewers when they are at maximum production levels.

"There is a real demand for British beers, which are seen as premium brands overseas."

As well as increasing capacity at the brewery in a bid to grow its exports, which currently stand at 15 per cent of sales, Wold Top is expanding its bottling operation, Agricola.

Launched in 2007, Agricola bottles beer for a number of well-known breweries, including Ilkley Brewery and Saltaire Brewery.

The investment will assist in the installation of a mezzanine floor and a second filtration system that enables beer to be placed into kegs and bottles at the same time.

Mr Mellor added: "It’s a competitive market. Thousands of pubs have shut yet there are more micro-breweries than ever before. You have to be innovative so we are investing in contract bottling.”

The Mellors intends to further develop the contract brewing and bottling side of the business in order to reduce the firms’ reliance on the cask ale market.

Finance Yorkshire Investment manager Ian Atkinson said: "Wold Top Brewery has experienced an impressive first decade but it needed investment to keep up with demand for its beer and bottling services.

"The new equipment will transform production capacity as it targets further growth both in the UK and overseas."