A Keighley brewery has announced a £1 million-plus expansion programme.

Timothy Taylor plans to build four new vessels at Knowle Spring Brewery to increase fermenting capacity by nearly a third.

And a new racking system will be installed, leading to major changes to the loading and dispatch departments.

Work on the scheme -- which completes the seventh phase of a major modernisation project at the company's base -- will begin in January, subject to planning approval.

A spokesman said: "The scheme will increase fermenting capacity to keep up with a growing demand for Timothy Taylor beers, and will also improve the efficiency of racking and distribution.

"In addition the project will also keep the brewery abreast of the latest health and safety standards and enhance the working environment."

Timothy Taylor is the last independent brewery of its kind left in West Yorkshire and has been brewing traditional cask conditioned ales for over 140 years.

In recent years it has invested almost £1.5 million in developing and upgrading plant and equipment.