THE boss of a brewery has won his battle to move his business out of the district that gave the company its name.

Nick Stafford founded Hambleton Ales at Holme-on-Swale, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

He was given permission for the premises to be developed into housing on the understanding the growing brewery would move to a site at Busby Stoop, in Hambleton district.

But negotiations for the site fell through and, after failing to find another suitable site in Hambleton, Mr Stafford proposed to move the brewery to a business park in Melmerby, near Ripon, in the Harrogate Borough Council area.

Yesterday, Hambleton District councillors approved a modification of the original legal agreement to acknowledge the new brewery would be outside Hambleton.

Planning officer Tim Wood had recommended approval. He said: "Although the new brewery would be considerably closer to Ripon than Thirsk, it is considered that the new site will have the scope to provide economic benefit for Hambleton District Council and the rural community in the area."

The planning committee chairman, Councillor Geoff Ellis, said: "He will still be in sight of the Hambleton Hills, and I think he should be fully supported in his relocation."