Highgate Brewery's 90-year-old bottle back

A Highgate beer bottle dating back more than 90 years has been discovered and given to campaigners looking to safeguard the historic Black Country brewery site.

The bottle was found by house clearance specialist Spencer Evans, who owns The Curio Shop in Walsall.

It is a 1919 First World War Peace Celebration bottle and was found while Mr Evans was clearing out a home recently.

The bottle carries the Highgate name and the 41-year-old decided to give it to the Friends of Highgate Brewery group, which can now auction it or keep as a reminder of its proud past.

Mr Evans said: "It is in great condition. It was a surprise when I stumbled across it but is great to find something of such interest. I have been working in the trade for over 20 years and never come across anything like it. Highgate is part of the history of the town."

More than 1,800 people have joined a campaign to support the brewery, which shut in June with the loss of 22 jobs.

The company Highgate & Davenports was put into voluntary liquidation after collapsing with huge debts. Several firms have expressed an interest in the 112-year-old Sandymount Road site.