Bankers who threatened to pull the plug on a local brewery have been criticised by its boss who said the Government should make bankers be more helpful to viable businesses.

Steve Taylor, managing director of Copper Dragon Brewery, in Skipton, was scathing about the actions of his former bankers – who nearly brought the business to its knees around Christmas.

Mr Taylor, who launched the business six years ago in a new £4.5 million brewery, pulled off a £3 million rescue using private capital and with support from Skipton Building Society which saved 55 jobs at the Skipton brewery and bistro.

The deal enabled him to buy a 100 per cent stake in the company from administrators who were called in “unexpectedly” by a bank on the Friday before Christmas. The administrators were appointed after Mr Taylor refused to grant the bank an increased share of equity and would not give up his intellectual property rights.

Speaking at the launch of Copper Dragon’s first special brew – a traditional ale in honour of Yorkshire and England cricket legend Fred Trueman – he lambasted his former bankers.

Mr Taylor said: “The bank moved unexpectedly. They were not prepared to take account of the fact that their approach would have ruined 55 lives and a good business.

“Although the Government says the banking system is working, it’s not. It’s time they stepped in to ensure that banks are supporting viable businesses instead of ruining them. If the politicians think that the banking system is helping business they are badly mistaken.

“Fortunately, with the backing of a private investor and support from Skipton Building Society – which was prepared to go further than a bank – we were able to rescue the situation.

“Copper Dragon is now poised to move on from being a micro brewery to a small regional brewery.”