A REAL ale brewery in the Colne Valley has been taken over.

Riverhead Brewery Tap at Marsden has been bought by Ossett Brewing Company Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

It is the latest in a string of acquisitions for Ossett Brewing Company, which also owns the Rat and Ratchet at Chapel Hill, Huddersfield.

Jamie Lawson, managing director of Ossett Brewing Company, said the Riverhead would keep its name and continue to brew its renowned beers with the same names and to the same recipes.

Ossett would also introduce some of its own beers to the Riverhead pub to offer a wider choice to drinkers.

Said Mr Lawson: "Riverhead is a busy and well-known pub.

"While many of its beers are very popular, the potential is there to introduce a bit more choice.

"However, the brewery will remain in operation on a full-time basis."

Mr Lawson said Ossett was looking at other possible takeover targets in West Yorkshire to add "a couple more" to its string of eight pubs in 2007.

The award-winning Riverhead is housed in a former grocery shop at Peel Street and was formed by Philip Holdsworth in 1995.

Its beers include Butterley Bitter, Deer Hill Porter and Black Moss Stout.

Ossett Brewery was formed in 1997 in premises at the rear of the Brewers Pride pub in Ossett.

Its first beer, named Bobby Dazzler after co-founder Bob Lawson, was launched in 1998.

Other beers produced by the brewery include Silver King, Excelsior and Old Gurner's Ale.

Mr Lawson became sole owner of the business in 2001. The following year, he was joined by his son, Jamie, who is now managing director.

Ossett Brewery owns The Rat and Ratchet; The Black Bull at Liversedge; The Three Pigeons in Halifax; The Shepherds Rest at Sowerby Bridge; The Travellers Inn at Hipperholme; The Shepherd's Boy in Dewsbury and The Drop Inn, Elland.