Marston plea to shareholders

MARSTON, Thompson & Evershed, the brewer under attack from its rival Wolverhampton & Dudley, yesterday urged shareholders to approve the disposal of its tenanted pubs at a meeting on 9 December.

Marston suggested that Wolverhampton would not allow its bid to lapse if the vote went ahead, adding that the bid deserved to be debated over the full 60 days allowed by the timetable. A spokesman for Wolverhampton said the announcement smacked of "desperation".