A LYE brewery's TV show inspired Peaky Blinder brew has been given the thumbs up by the makers of the hit gangster show themselves.

Cast and crew from the popular BBC television drama were able to sample the ale, produced by Sadler's Ales, during a celebration to launch the second series which is set in Birmingham and currently showing on BBC 2.

Sadler's spokesman Charlotte Buckby said: "Caryn Mandabach Productions, who produce Peaky Blinders, got wind of the Peaky Blinder brew and got in touch, so we sent them 20 cases to the launch, which apparently went down a storm."

The thumbs-up from the Peaky Blinders team was not the only VIP seal of approval given to the brewery of late.

Television presenter Eamonn Holmes has become such a fan of the ale that he made a trip to the Lye brewery recently after filming his Sky News Sunrise show.

Charlotte Buckby added: "Eamonn is a friend of our sales director Ian King who invited him down.

"He was given a tour of the brewery and introduced to the staff, which was quite a surprise to them as nobody knew he was coming."

These are exciting times for Sadler's which is expanding its brewery to the Conyers Trading Estate situated next to Lye Railway Station.

Charlotte Buckby confirmed: "It's got to the point where we need a bit more room. We're hopeful of having the premises up and running before Christmas."