Mr Pinty goes to Parliament

Mr Pinty, a new 6ft cartoon character campaigning to save the British pub, has appeared with other 6ft cartoon pint characters, representing some of the UK's best-known beer brands, in a Parliamentary protest today.

With just two weeks to go before the Budget, the pint-sized protesters met outside Parliament with placards to oppose Government plans to impose further beer tax rises.

They then visited the Treasury to deliver a campaign postcard to the Chancellor before walking down Whitehall to meet members of the public.