A TOP country pub has stopped selling beer brewed by Samuel Smith's in protest at the brewery's opposition to a temporary bridge in Tadcaster.

Andrew Whitney and Martin Bridge, the co-owners of the Stone Trough at Kirkham Priory, between York and Malton, say the brewery will no longer have their custom after it refused to allow its land to be used for the footbridge over the River Wharfe.

Mr Whitney said the pub, which they acquired last spring, supported Yorkshire by selling products made in the region, including Samuel Smith's beer.

But they had now stopped selling this because of brewery boss Humphrey Smith's decision not to support local residents who needed the bridge to cross from one side of Tadcaster to the other.

"I can't understand why he didn't ring the council to say he had got land which could be used for the bridge," he said.

Mr Bridge said customers at the pub were appreciative that they were taking a stand on the issue.

On Wednesday, The Press wrote this open letter to Humphrey Smith, calling on him to help local people.