ONE of the North-East's most famoud names in brewing looks set to change hands.

The famous Camerons Lion is believed to be up for sale with owner Wolverhampton & Dudley expected to announce plans for the Hartlepool site within the next few weeks.

An industry insider told The Northern Echo: "It appears that Wolverhampton & Dudley is touting the business around to brewers locally and nationally.

"An announcement from the company is expected in the next few weeks, and a sale should be completed in Spring next year."

The news comes as Camerons fellow Harlepool company Pubmaster is up for grabs, with a consortium led by a German bank set to offer £200m.

Last month W&D began a strategic review of its operations after rebuffing a potential offer from private equity group Botts in August, which was understood to have valued the business at £472m.

The brewery said the review "may or may not lead to an offer for all or part of the company", with Botts still thought to be interested in buying the Wolverhampton based brewer.

W&D was expected to sell some of its facilities to help fight off future takeover bids, and Camerons, which has 150 staff in Hartlepool, is the most likely.

A spokesman for W&D refused to speak about the speculation but described the Hartlepool site as "an outstanding business which had been turned round since W&D took charge in 1992".

It is presently operating at a level approaching full capacity, and any sale would be as a going concern. W&D has pumped in capital as part of a general restructuring following its takeover of Marston's.

The brewery announces its annual results in two weeks time when the findings of an internal review are expected to reach the conclusion that W&D cannot continue operating all four of its breweries under the takeover threat.

Two of its other sites, at Wolverhampton and Burton, which are closely associated with Midlands brands Banks and Pedigree, are thought to be safe from the threat of takeover.