Preston micro brewery is back on the road after delivery van theft

The vehicle was vital to the Beer Brothers Brewery & Bar as it faced the challenges of the Covid 19 crisis.

The Walton Summit Centre-based business is Preston's biggest micro brewery, producing a wide range of craft and real ales and with a tap room and bottle shop on site.

The thieves struck in broad daylight, leaving the brewers without a van to make deliveries until a replacement was found.

Brewery founder Phil Leyland said: "It does make it more tough. We've had to scratch around and get another van.

"It's stopped us from doing what we needed to do for a a week."

The silver Ford Transit was stolen on November 8. The theft was reported to police but the vehicle has still not been found.

Phil, 37, explained: "The van was parked outside.

"We got ram raided on March 18, so we always parked the van against the shutters to stop them ram raiding again.

"It was on Sunday, March 8. They stole a van from Yodel at the bottom of Four Oaks Road - we're five hundred metres away.It was a similar Transit to ours, then they came and stole ours.

"We have CCTV and they came in a car followed by the other Transit van from Yodel."

Phil said the van was vital to the business, as it was the main home delivery van with the brewery's livery.

But a replacement van has kept the brewery on the road.

He added: "We've got a bigger better van more specific to or needs, but it's going to take time getting it liveried up."

The brewery put news of the theft on its Facebook page, saying: "Our van has been stolen. Please look out for the van in the pictures, it has been taken from outside the brewery at some point this weekend.

"Please contact the Police if you see it.."

It later put out this message to everyone who had tried to help: "Firstly, we'd like to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone that has tried to help us locate our stolen van this week! Unfortunately at the moment we are yet to receive any more information as to where the van is.

"We'd also like to apologies to anyone who is yet to receive their online orders this week. Having no delivery van has really stumped us this week but we're back up and running so we'll have them with you by tomorrow!

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!"