AN AWARD-WINNING microbrewery will open a new bar elsewhere in the borough later this summer.

Blackedge Brewing Company, based in Horwich, has been given the go ahead to open a second site in Westhoughton.

Work has begun at the Market Street property which had been used as a shop front for Horwich Carpets until recently.

Head brewer Wayne Roper hopes it will launch by the end of August.

He said: "We decided to open a new site to help the brewery grow. The beer industry is so competitive now that we felt another outlet for our brand would benefit the brewery business."

The new bar will offer a range of seven hand-pulled ales mainly from Blackedge Brewery, seven real ciders and up to ten craft beers.

The bar will also be well stocked with wines, spirits, mixers and soft drinks including a big range of artisan gins.

Mr Roper added: "The brewery is always developing new beers to keep up with the ever changing consumer tastes and demands.

"We are probably best know for our full bodied, full flavoured session ales and also for our dark beers but we also do some fantastic craft beers and a couple of very good lagers."

The Westhoughton branch of Horwich Carpets has been intermittently closed since August due to the manager being ill.

The carpet shop has now downsized, moving out of the Market Street building but keeping its connected Marsden Street store.

The town hall approved the plans last week.