THE decision to stop brewing Newcastle Brown Ale on Tyneside will be detrimental to sales of the legendary tipple, it was claimed today.

MPs said they were gravely concerned at the decision to end production of Broon at Scottish & Newcastle's plant in Gateshead.

They condemned the decision by the drinks giant to close its Federation Brewery in Dunston next year with the loss of 63 jobs.

Production of the famous bottled beer, with its iconic blue star on the label, will instead move to Tadcaster in North Yorkshire.

But in a Commons motion tabled by Labour's David Clelland (Tyne Bridge), MPs said they were "gravely concerned at the news of the impending closure of the Scottish & Newcastle brewery in Gateshead with the loss of over 60 jobs and the resultant damage to the local economy".

It added: "This decision will mean that Newcastle Brown Ale will no longer be brewed on Tyneside" and "the resultant loss of credibility of the brand name will be detrimental to the future sales of the company's top-selling product and one of the country's major exports."

It called upon Scottish & Newcastle "to reverse this decision in the interests of the employees and local and national economy and the company itself".

The motion has so far been signed by four Labour MPs.