Shocked Morrells' workers were given redundancy details within hours of learning that the brewery was for sale.

Workers say the company wasted little time in dashing lingering hopes that brewing would continue at St Thomas' Street, Oxford.

They were called in individually on Thursday and Friday to hear about redundancy entitlements.

A number of the 77 brewery workers contacted the Oxford Mail to say they were angry at the prospect of being offered the statutory minimum.

One caller said: "Most people will leave with between £5,000 and £10,000. We are talking about the bare minimum that has to be paid to people, with the small sum that they are entitled to under profit-share.

"Then we read about the family sharing out £35m from the sale of assets. People are disgusted. They are faced with staying here until the sale but no-one can speak out for fear of losing redundancy payments."

It has now emerged that the historic brewery is not listed, with developers and Oxford University colleges certain to be queuing to register an interest in the prime city centre site. Morrells' Chief Executive Ken Hodgson said in his statement announcing that the company was selling 132 pubs and the brewery: "We cannot say with absolute certainty what the future holds for our 77 members of staff. We will be asking prospective purchasers what their plans are for employees and, if job losses are necessary, a full redundancy package will be offered." A company spokesman said: "We wanted to tell people what their situation would be if they were made redundant and what they would be entitled to."

Meanwhile, the Campaign for Real Ale says it may hold a protest demonstration outside the brewery.

Camra's Mike Benner said: "The management of this affair has been outrageous."

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