Brewery offers deserted staff some cheer

The brewery responsible for the Oldham pubs left in turmoil after landlord Graham Horrocks fled last week has vowed to help staff who fear losing their job.

Mr Horrocks left the Morning Star in Shaw, the Halfway House in Royton and Chester restaurant The Gallery last week, leaving a trail of debts and workers without wages.

Staff were worried they would receive little help from brewery JW Lees, which supplies the businesses.

But William Lees-Jones, managing director of JW Lees, said: “We are keeping the doors open and doing everything we can to take on Graham Horrocks’s former staff.

“Our sympathies go out to those who have suffered financially owing to his departure. We would urge anyone who knows of his whereabouts to contact JW Lees or the Oldham Chronicle so he can be found.”