One of Cumbria's oldest and best-loved small breweries has called time on its business.

Owners Graeme and Caroline Baxter have decided to close Yates Brewery two years after putting it on the market.

The couple have decided to retire and their two sons did not want to take the business on.

Caroline said: "It's not what we wanted. We wanted to sell.

"I'm sure our fans will find a replacement. There are lots of good competitors out there.

"We have tried to sell it on and off for the past five years. We have had enough and we want to retire."

The Westnewton business has been on the market for the past two years with an original price tag of £850,000.

It was founded in 1986 by Peter Yates, who was also head brewer at Jennings in Cockermouth and was taken over in 1998 by current owners Graeme and Caroline Baxter, who previously owned High Force Hotel & Brewery in County Durham.

Yates has won a number of awards locally and nationally throughout its 30-year history, and consistently been one of the most popular ales in Cumbria.

Caroline added: "Retiring is the plan. We have had one or two people calling asking if we will do some consultancy work, but we want to have a rest for a while."