AN ambitious bid to see a North Yorkshire river reclaim its crown as one of the country’s top salmon fisheries has won liquid backing.

A famous brewery has created a new seasonal beer to commemorate its support of environmental project to bring wild salmon back to the River Ure.

Infallible - named after a salmon fishing fly - has been specially brewed by Masham-based T and R Theakston, which has announced a long-term sponsorship of the Ure Salmon Trust Project.

Over the next six years, the Trust is aiming to raise £100,000 annually to help fund the Environment Agency-backed ecological and environmental initiative,‘ It is hoped the project will see the Ure become one of England’s premier salmon fishing rivers for the first time in over 100 years.

In addition to reintroducing young wild salmon into tributaries along the Ure, the project aims to restore great swathes of river banks which have crumbled and caused gravel beds around the natural breeding grounds to silt up.

The brewery’s executive director Simon Theakston said: “This is a wonderful scheme that will bring environmental, ecological and economic benefits to the region.

“For more than 180 years we have been brewing beers in Masham, a town situated on the banks of the River Ure. We therefore feel a very strong affinity with the river and are delighted to help with the project's aims.

“Improving the river sufficiently to support wild salmon in the numbers anticipated will form a lasting legacy for the area for generations to come.”

Trust Member Richard Bourne-Arton said: “We are indebted to Theakston's for its support of the project. Creating a beer to commemorate this partnership is an inspired move.”

More details about the Ure Salmon Trust can be found on its website - uresalmon.co.uk