AS Thwaites is set to leave Blackburn after 211 years, we take a look back at the many faces that worked there.

Ever since Daniel Thwaites became a partner at the Eanam Brewery in 1807, it became an institution in the town and has employed thousands of people over the years.

Fathers and sons worked there and it provided job security across generations.

The brewery today has an extensive estate of public houses, but the Black Bull at Livesey is the oldest surviving; it has been in Thwaites' ownership for nearly 200 years.

Back in the day the Shire horses earned their keep by delivering Thwaites' top quality ales to pubs in the town and have become an iconic image for the brewery.

David Kay, who was to move up the ranks to become managing director, made the suggestion that the animals be brought back into use.

"Horses, this is 1957, what was he thinking about," was the retort but, eventually, his vision materialised and on May Day 1960, the first two shire horses were led of out of their smart new stables by draymen Harry Crossland and Bill Sycamore.

The brewers, the delivery men, the landlords, the security staff, the secretaries and the directors, all had an important role to play to make sure the cogs were turning smoothly.

The brewery is moving to Mellor in the coming weeks.