THE UK's largest pub landlord is reported to have entered the bidding for a brewery.

Japanese investment bank Nomura is the latest to declare an interest in regional brewers Wolverhampton and Dudley, owner of Cameron's at Hartlepool.

Nomura received a copy of Wolves' sale details last week and is considering making a bid, according to reports.

The news follows the brewery's decision to postpone its deadline for offers to April 20 in the light of "recent increased interest".

Among the bidders is Hartlepool's Pubmaster pub group, which used to belong to Cameron's. It is reported that the company is already trying to buy the £1.6m, 3,000-strong Whitbread estate, and could be interested in bidding for 920 pubs being auctioned by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries.

Wolverhampton and Dudley's managing director, David Thompson, is leading the management buy-out bid, and leisure entrepreneur Robert Breade is known to be in the running.

Wolves, valued at £433m on the Stock Exchange, owns chains including the Pitcher & Piano pubs and the Varsity student outlets.

Last month, Nomura bought out about 1,000 Bass pubs in a £625m deal. It is thought the bank would be mainly interested in about 1,000 of Wolves' 1,700 pubs, but not the four breweries which produce brands such as the Banks's and Pedigree labels, which it would either sell or close.