THE deadline to secure a merger deal between the Camerons and Castle Eden breweries has been extended.

Castle Eden has been in talks with Wolverhampton and Dudley (W&DB) to buy the Camerons operation in Hartlepool. It plans to merge the two businesses on the site of Camerons, safeguarding the jobs of 150 staff.

W&DB set a deadline of yesterday for the conclusion of negotiations, but no deal has been signed. Castle Eden plans to sell off its site to developer Charles Church for a new homes project.

The plans have been passed to the Government Office for the North-East (GO-NE) for approval, where they are still under consideration.