SCOTTISH and Newcastle is reported to be on the verge of selling 650 of its pubs for up to £350m.

The Tyneside brewer is understood to have chosen Enterprise Inns and Noble House as preferred bidders for the deal, which is expected to be completed in the next few months.

The company wants to concentrate on brewing but is expected to keep some pubs.

It is understood that Enterprise Inns would take over 400 of the pubs and Noble House would run the remainder.

Noble House is bidding for the Wolverhampton and Dudley brewery and pub chain, which owns Hartlepool's Camerons brewery.

The Wolverhampton and Dudley brewery plans to sell Camerons and is in talks with the Castle Eden Brewery in County Durham