PHOENIX Nights star Paddy McGuinness helped mark the 140th anniversary of a popular Lancashire brewery in style - by dressing up in Victorian period costume and taking part in a commemorative train ride.

Paddy was joined by about 100 other guests, also in period costume, when they climbed aboard a special train, the Pendle Witch Express for Moorhouse's Brewery's themed celebration.

An informal collection of brass band musicians helped kick start the celebrations when the train departed from Bolton Street station, Bury, for its 45-minute journey along the East Lancs Railway.

Liverpudlian-based band the Barbershop Quartet kept the guests entertained on board the Pendle Witch Express as the train wound its way through the rainy East Lancashire countryside to Ramsbottom.

The guests enjoyed a celebration lunch at The Grant Arms which was hosted by the owner of the Burnley based Moorhouse's Brewery, Atherton businessman Bill Parkinson.

A spokesman for Moorhouse's said: "Everyone, including Patrick McGuinness, really got into the swing of things and enjoyed the whole day.

"There was a real atmosphere about the day, with the brass band and the Barbershop Quartet, through to everyone dressing up in Victorian period costume."

Managing director David Grant said that although the 140th anniversary was about celebrating the past, the brewery was very much looking forward to the future.

The company is planning a £750,000 investment programme which will see production rise to 500 barrels a week and the size of the brew-house doubled.

Mr Grant said: "In this 140th year since William Moorhouse began producing mineral waters and later, low-alcohol beers, Moorhouse's brewery is at the top of its tree. For the brewery the future looks very bright."