A PUB boss visited Bury last week as part of a nationwide tour spreading his views on the EU referendum.

Tim Martin, founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon, spoke to staff and customers at the Robert Peel and Art Picture House pubs in the town centre on Wednesday, after the company printed 200,000 beer mats bearing a hard-hitting message arguing for the UK to leave the European Union.

As well as the beermats, which asks why voters should trust the views of International Monetary Fund managing director, Christine Lagarde, Wetherspoon pubs have also been stocked with magazines showcasing both sides of the debate.

Mr Martin said: "The message I want to spread is that democracy is essential for prosperity and I think the EU is gradually taking democracy away.

"That has repercussions for the economies of the member countries - look at what has happened in Greece, Spain, and Portugal.

"At the moment we buy most of our wines from South Africa, South America, and Australia, and those are better quality and cheaper than those from Europe.

"If we leave the EU, it will bring the prices of wine and food, I would think. And if we can get more homegrown ingredients for our beers, then I think the effect of leaving would be neutral on those prices.

"My impression is that Greater Manchester is quite Eurosceptic, more so than in the South. The people I spoke to in Bury were very concerned about the impact on the pub trade and wanted to know what I think of what David Cameron has been saying - and I don't think very much of it."

He added: "The Government has paraded a number of financial institutions in front of the public, who have, in my view, grossly distorted our financial prospects in the event of a Brexit.

"Corporate governance at the IMF is clearly out of control and Christine Lagarde would have been obliged to resign at any normal plc or institution until the matters in question were resolved.

"The UK public have been asked to rely on her comments by both George Osborne and David Cameron in the forthcoming referendum and she must now answer the questions on the beer mats and others that the public may have."

The EU referendum is being held on June 23.