Enterprising independent breweries in the Bradford district are bucking the national trend when it comes to sinking beer sales.

Sales in pubs are at their lowest level since the 1930s, a report published by brewing industry bosses has revealed.

Seven million fewer pints per day are now being sold in Britain compared to the beer market's 1979 peak - a 22 per cent drop.

Beer sales across pubs, bars, supermarkets and off-licences are at their lowest level since 1969, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

In pubs, beer sales have plummeted 49 per cent since 1979 but supermarket and off-licence beer sales have increased over the same period, lessening the overall decline.

But despite the slump in overall beer sales, breweries in the district believe they have a bright future.

Charles Dent, managing director of Keighley brewer Timothy Taylor said it had enjoyed record sales year-on-year for the past three years.

"There has been a decline in beer sales but that is across the board. The likes of regional independent breweries like Timothy Taylor are selling at record levels. We have been steaming ahead for the past three or four years.

"Timothy Taylor is unusual because it is a regional brewery but with a nationally-known brand in Landlord, which is selling all over the country in big numbers.

"Four years ago, you could count on two hands how many pubs in London sold Landlord. This year, it is more than 100 pubs, which just shows the demand for traditional ales."

Paul Simpson, managing director of Saltaire Brewery in Shipley, said: "Real ale is growing year-on-year and small micro-breweries are growing in number.

"Standard bitter and lager is suffering but there are niches in some markets. Cider is seeing a resurgence and real ales are doing very well at the moment.

"That is not to say that the environment we are operating in at the moment is a tough one. The smoking ban is one of the factors, a bad summer and a general depression in the economy are others.

"But for those that are having an awful time, there are breweries that are doing well. For producers of real ale, it is not all doom and gloom. In fact, I think there is a bright future."

Bradford's Salamander brewery based in Dudley Hill also reported a boom in real-ale sales since it unveiled its first beer in Christmas 2000.

Joint managing director, Dan Gent said: "This year, we thought we would have a rough year, with the poor weather in the summer and the smoking ban but we have had, in fact, a good year.

"Overall sales may be down but it seems there is a big interest in real ale. Sales have been so good that we are increasing capacity so that we can brew three times a week more often."

The BBPA sent an email to MPs this week calling for a freeze on beer duty. It cites the soaring costs of barley, malt, glass, aluminium and energy as factors which are squeezing brewers' profits.

Mr Simpson said: "It is always the easy option for them to increase the duty on beer. To address the issue you need a much more creative, longer term strategy."