TWELVE Tadcaster brewery workers have been sacked following an investigation into the alleged improper use of company computers.

The employees of John Smith Brewery were dismissed yesterday afternoon for gross misconduct after the investigation showed that they used company computers to "distribute offensive and inappropriate material".

A statement issued by parent company Scottish Courage said: "Their actions and behaviour constituted a serious breach of the company's disciplinary policy."

News of the sackings comes after a tough few months for the brewery, which halted work on a multi-million pound bottling plant at the end of April, pending a nationwide review of its "packaging capabilities".

Within a fortnight, the company announced that 21 employees - five managers and 16 factory floor workers - were to be made redundant over the next year.

The redundancies were attributed to keeping costs down and remaining competitive in the brewing industry.

David Jones, spokesman for Scottish Courage, denied that the sackings were related to the decision to axe jobs among the 310-strong workforce. "We totally refute any suggestion that these dismissals are linked to anything other than a serious breach of discipline."

Updated: 10:30 Saturday, August 02, 2003