IT was 175 years ago that a farmer's son decided not to follow in his father's footsteps but to strike out on his own.

Robert Theakston leased rooms at the Black Bull Inn, Masham, North Yorkshire - and the rest, as they say, is history. His brewery has grown from a family firm to a household name - and day staff recently celebrated the company's achievements by launching a new ale called Peculiar Peculier - a glass of which is raised, above, by Lynne Jacobs, manager of the brewery's visitor centre. Described as a "strong, smooth, tawny-coloured bitter", the new beer is available at the Theakston's visitor centre in Masham, as well as in John Smiths pubs running the firm's Guest Ale programme throughout the month.