The head of Morrells says the famous Oxford beer could survive the sale of the historic brewery.

Chief executive and chairman Ken Hodgson dropped the strongest hint yet that Morrells beer may continue to be brewed after the Lion Brewery had gone.

He raised the prospect of Morrells being brewed outside Oxford after receiving a petition opposing the sale from real ale group Camra.

He said: "In its petition, Camra asks consumers to 'Imagine Oxford without Morrells Beers'.

"I must stress that at no-time have we said that our name or our beers will necessarily disappear from the Oxfordshire pub scene. There is a real possibility that the purchaser will retain the name and continue to produce the beers from another site."

Camra collected more than 5,700 signatures in pubs, shopping centres and at Oxford United.

It was handed to Morrells' marketing manager, Wilma James, outside the brewery gate in St Thomas's Street, yesterday.

Mr Hodgson said: "While I sympathise with the concerns expressed, I can only reiterate what we have said all along, which is that the decision to sell was not an easy one. "However, we had to face the facts: the brewery is not profitable, it costs in excess of £1m a year to keep it open. Morrells is a small, family business, which just cannot afford such losses." He said the company had received 20 bids, but none included keeping the brew- ery open. Detailed negotiations were going on "with a number of parties".

Camra earlier accused Morrells' directors of "a scandalous attempt to wreck a viable, profit- making company."

But their petition was handed over in sadness rather than anger.

Neil Hoggarth, chairman of the Oxford branch, said: "We have to keep trying. There's always hope and signatures are still coming in."

Branch secretary David Hodges pledged that the battle would continue even after the sale of the brewery and Morrells' 132 pubs.

"Morrells produce a distinctive beer. Whoever takes over, we will want to work with them to see what can be done," he said.

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